In Brief

The following information is reprinted from two issues of NLS Flash, a newsletter created to bring current information on NLS progress in digital technology to patrons, library staff, and other interested individuals.

Flash, December 2006, volume 3, issue 1

NLS forms advisory committee for digital transition

With the design and development of digital talking books, machines, and
containers nearly complete, the National Library Service for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, is planning the next stage
of the digital project—implementation. Beginning in 2008, NLS will phase
in the production and distribution of digital talking books and players while
phasing out recorded cassettes and C-1 analog talking-book machines. NLS has
organized the Digital Transition Advisory Committee to advise the process during
its pivotal first three years. The committee, made up of consumer representatives
and regional and state librarians, will meet for the first time on January
30, 2007, in Washington, D.C., to discuss key issues.

"We have reached an important point in the digital project. Our focus
is shifting from design and development to production and distribution," said
Frank Kurt Cylke, NLS director. "We are eager to get digital audiobooks
into the hands of our patrons."

The advisory committee will serve three primary purposes. First, it will be
a channel for informing user groups, the network of cooperating regional libraries,
and state librarians about NLS’s plans for distributing digital talking
books and players. Key stakeholders will thus know what to expect when implementation
begins. Second, committee participants will review distribution plans to ensure
that no significant considerations are overlooked. Finally, members will offer
new and emerging ideas for improving the transition process.

This Digital Transition Advisory Committee succeeds the Digital Long-Term
Planning Group, which was tasked with advising NLS on the design and development
process for digital talking books and players. The planning group completed
its assignment. The advisory committee will help to move the transition process
forward.

The fourteen-member committee includes consumer representatives from the American
Council of the Blind, the Blinded Veterans Association, and the National Federation
of the Blind. Regional librarians representing the Midlands, Northern, Southern,
and Western Conferences and a representative from the Consortium of User Libraries
will also serve on the committee. Additionally, the group includes six state
librarians from different parts of the country.

Taking the lead

The Carolyn Sung, chief of the NLS Network Division, will chair the
advisory committee. The Network Division offers direct service and
support to NLS's network of cooperating libraries. Because it
maintains regular contact with the libraries, it is the most
logical choice for channeling communication about the digital
transition.

"The role of the Network Division is ultimately to help
librarians to do their work and to provide them with the resources
they need," said Sung. "Our goal is to ensure that librarians
nationwide continue to be informed about the transition so that
they can adequately prepare to provide digital offerings to
patrons in 2008."

The Network Division has been engaged in the digital project
from the beginning. Steve Prine, assistant chief of the Network
Division, serves on NLS's Digital Audio Development (DAD)
executive committee, which has focused on the development of the
player and cartridge, and he, along with Sung, will be presenting
relevant issues to the implementation committee at the inaugural
meeting.

Implementation issues

The advisory committee will be presented with a full progress
report on the development of the digital player, cartridge, and
container. The state of the digital book download project and
other automation concerns will also be addressed. The main focus
of the meeting, however, will be to discuss distribution plans.

After the transition period in 2012, NLS will revisit the
distribution system issues. The organization will consider whether
to continue mass-duplication of all digital titles or adopt a
hybrid system, in which the most popular titles will be mass
produced and less popular titles will be duplicated on demand. The
cost of digital duplication is expected to decrease steadily over
the next years, and implementation of a hybrid system may not be
cost-efficient by 2012.

Among the transition issues to be discussed at the advisory
committee meeting are book and player distribution, shelving,
duplication, circulation system modifications, machine
distributing and monitoring issues, and copy allotment.

According to Prine, successful implementation across the
network is based on librarians fully understanding the new
dynamics and processes associated with the digital program. "The
digital transition will be a complex process, but we're confident
that with adequate preparation the implementation will be
seamless," noted Prine.

Members of the Digital Transition Advisory Committee

Consumer groups

Chris Gray, American Council of the Blind

George Brummell, Blinded Veterans Association

David Andrews, National Federation of the Blind

Network libraries

Lissa Shanahan, Indiana Regional Library, Midlands Conference

Jill Lewis, Maryland Regional Library, Northern Conference

Ruth Hemphill, Tennessee Regional Library, Southern Conference

Bessie Oakes, Utah Regional Library, Western Conference

Karen Keninger, Iowa Regional Library, Consortium of User Libraries

State libraries

Irene Padilla, Maryland State Department of Education Division of Library
Development and Services

Robert Maier, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners

Michael York, New Hampshire State Library

Doris Ott, North Dakota State Library

Peggy Rudd, Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Donna Jones Morris, Utah State Library Division

Flash, January 2007, volume 3, issue 2

NLS submits request to fund digital transition

As the digital transition project progresses toward its 2008 initiation
date, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
(NLS), Library of Congress, is pursuing its plan for a successful launch. A
formal funding request has been submitted to Congress by the Library of Congress
to support a four-year transition plan. NLS has requested $76.4 million to
support the production and distribution of digital talking books (DTBs), digital
players, flash-memory cartridges, and containers. If approved, funds will be
disbursed in four equal increments.

"This funding request is based on the thorough research and analysis
of projected costs by NLS experts, our consultants, and contractors working
on the digital program. Careful assessment of
the upcoming stages of the program led to the conclusion that $76.4 million
will be required to support the transition through completion, ensuring little
disruption in service to patrons,"
said Frank Kurt Cylke, NLS director. "We are hopeful that our request
will be met so that we may successfully achieve the project's goals."

The digital project, in progress for more than a decade, will update talking-book
technology by replacing cassette books and players with flash-based digital
talking books and players. Three
main factors spurred the transition to digital-improved patron service, patron
expectations, and cassette obsolescence. Digital talking books will greatly
enhance the reading experience,
offering users crisper, clearer audio; significant navigation capabilities;
and greater convenience. The new players are lighter and smaller and, in 95
percent of cases, one cartridge will hold a
complete book. Finally, NLS is moving toward digital because analog technology
has become outdated, and cassettes and player parts are increasingly expensive
and difficult to locate. Unlike
the cassette player, the digital player contains no moving parts, making it
more reliable and less susceptible to mechanical failure.

Benefits of digital technology

Digital technology offers multiple benefits! The player's smaller and
lighter frame makes the machine more portable and provides patrons more options
in where they choose to read. The machine is also user-friendly, because of
the shape, tactility, and color markings of the player's buttons; the ease
with which cartridges may be inserted and ejected; and optimal audio help features.
This last function enables patrons to access audio instructions on machine
use at the touch of a button, allowing them to read independently. Equipped
with an extended-life battery, the digital player also runs longer-approximately
sixteen hours-and is more cost efficient for NLS to maintain and repair. The
flash platform can be easily adapted for use by basic, advanced, and download
users.

Readers are likely to enjoy the digital talking book's superior audio quality.
The system's improved navigation capabilities will offer patrons greater control
over the reading process. The digital talking-book cartridge can sustain a
surprising degree of abuse and still continue to function efficiently. Furthermore,
once a title is no longer in high demand, cartridges may be reloaded and recirculated
with no degradation in sound quality or performance.

To ensure that the digital
player meets the needs of its users and to guarantee compliance with intellectual
property law, NLS has chosen to provide a player built to its own specifications.

The digital player and flash cartridge are based on open standards developed
by the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) so that NLS can obtain
products from a number of sources instead of a single provider, ensuring that
the devices are always available. While the system complies with open standards,
it adheres to a legislated special format to protect its intellectual property.

The digital machine also has the advantage of being significantly more durable
than the cassette player, resulting in a longer lifespan. Built to endure rough
handling and transit through the mail system, even three-foot drops, the player
also features easy-to-clean surfaces so it is easy for patrons to maintain
and may be reissued over its long lifespan.

The player's controls facilitate use by both blind and physically handicapped
readers. The buttons are easy to discover and appropriately sized. In most
cases the shape denotes their function and they are labeled in both print and
braille.

Digital production and distribution

Taking the digital player from concept to manufacturing was a team effort.
NLS has engaged the expertise of industry leaders in product design and development
and in the fields of blindness and
physical disability research to ensure the best player for our users. The process
has involved extensive user testing of the player's hardware and software.

As the digital talking-book's design and development stage draws to a close,
NLS is planning for the production and distribution phase. Over the course
of four years, NLS will phase out cassette books and players as it phases in
digital talking books and digital players.

In 2008, NLS will initiate production of flash-memory machines as well as
duplication and distribution of digital talking-book cartridges. From 2009
to 2010, NLS will increase production of digital books while continuing to
provide some cassette titles. NLS will stop producing cassette books entirely
in 2011. NLS plans to produce enough digital titles and players between 2008
and 2011 to sustain the digital program without service disruptions.

Production of digital talking books and players

The first table details the number of titles and copies of both digital and
cassette books that NLS plans to produce from 2008 to 2011. The second
table charts production of DTB players during that same time.

Digital and Cassette Books Contracted:

2008

2009

2010

2011

Total Book Reproduction

Titles

Copies

Titles

Copies

Titles

Copies

Titles

Copies

Cassette Books

2,000

694

2,000

443

2,000

1999

0

0

DTBs

650

350

1,300

550

1,500

750

1,731

942

Digital Players Contracted:

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

DTB Player Production

60,000

124,295

144,590

133,830

129,280

Digital Talking-Book Player

Weighing only 2 pounds, the new digital talking-book machines are smaller
and lighter than current cassette players. The tactile buttons, color-coded
and shaped to facilitate user ease, are just one feature that will enhance
reading pleasure. The basic model shown here varies only slightly from
the advanced version, which includes additional buttons for the advanced
navigation functions. The flash cartridge featured on the right will,
in 95 percent of cases, hold an entire book, reducing the number of moving
parts to keep track of.

Digital Talking Book (DTB) Milestones

Completed

Defined and prioritized DTB features

Coordinated development and publication of Specifications for
the Digital Talking Book (ANSI/NISO Z39.86)

Simulated a DTB player using personal computer

Developed a computer-based, life-cycle cost analysis (LCC) model
for the NLS system and for candidate digital systems

Developed computer software for DTB production and presentation

Developed software to test conformance of players and DTBs with
the ANSI/NISO standard

User survey

Player transition study

Distribution flash-cartridge study

Player and flash-cartridge design contract awarded

Distribution-system design contract awarded

Distribution-system design contract Phase I, II

Preliminary design review

Player and flash-cartridge developed

Designed DTB containers and labels

Web-Magazine pilot concluded

Web-Book pilot launched

Digital data management system designed

Start 1/12/04—Finish 10/1/08

The following ongoing projects, set to conclude in 2008, are shown with start dates in parentheses.

Newsstand

The following announcements may be of interest to readers. The National Library
Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped reserves the right to publish
announcements selectively, as space permits. Items mentioned, however, are
not part of the NLS program, and their listing does not imply endorsement.

Free Mystic Seaport passes

The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped has renewed
its membership with Mystic Seaport's association of public libraries and is once
again offering NLS
patrons use of a free one-day seaport pass. The seaport is a world-renowned,
not-for-profit historical and educational institution occupying thirty-seven
acres on the Mystic River, near
New London, Connecticut. Highlights of the site include restored tall ships,
tours by shipwrights and craftsmen, and a variety of exhibit galleries. The pass
entitles two adults and three children
or grandchildren under eighteen to free admission to Mystic Seaport on the day
of the week specified on the pass. The opportunity is available year-round. The
pass will be sent by express delivery and will include a prepaid return envelope.

If interested, e-mail jphi@loc.gov or fax (202) 707-0712, attention Mystic
Pass Coordinator, Publications and Media Section. Include your name, street
address, telephone number, and the date and day of the week you wish to visit
Mystic Seaport. For visitor information, including accessibility details, membership
opportunities, directions, lodging, and more, go to www.mysticseaport.org.

EMAX software lets users read and respond to e-mail over the phone

EMAX, a new service available from Electronic Virtual Assistant or EVA, reads
e-mail messages to users over the telephone. Users may respond to e-mail messages
verbally, and these responses will be recorded and sent as digital sound files.
To avoid listening to spam or unwanted e-mails, subscribers may set up a "wanted" e-mail
list for EMAX to read. The EMAX service is available to subscribers at the
price of $19.95 per month with a thirty-day free trial. More information is
available on the Internet at http://www.evanow.com/emax/ or by phone at 1-877-447-3382.

Books for Adults

Cassettes Nonfiction

The Jewish War RC 59890
by Josephus
read by Don Feldheim
5 cassettes
Account of the failed first-century Jewish rebellion against Rome, written
by
rebel leader Josephus (c. 37–100 A.D.), later a captive who changed loyalties.
Details Judaean life under Roman rule, the destruction of Jerusalem and the
Jewish Temple, and the resistance at Masada. Portrays Herod, Emperor Vespasian,
and others. Violence. 1970.

Between Good and Evil: A Master Profiler's Hunt for Society's Most
Violent Predators RC 60390
by Roger L. Depue
read by Michael Russotto
2 cassettes
Autobiography of the former head of FBI behavioral sciences unit, which profiles
serial killers. Describing his career, Dupue covers law enforcement, infamous
cases, and post-retirement consulting work. Relates entering a Catholic seminary
upon his wife's death and eventually counseling prisoners. Violence and strong
language. 2005.

Bring Me a Unicorn: Diaries and Letters of Anne Morrow Lindbergh,
1922–1928 RC 60406
by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
read by Kate Kiley
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Collected writings by the daughter of a prominent New Jersey family and wife
of pilot Charles Lindbergh. Records her education at Smith College, family
trips, struggles to become an author, and courtship with Charles, whom she
met in Mexico City in 1927 following his landmark transatlantic flight. Includes
introduction. 1971.

The Path to Victory: The Mediterranean Theater in World War II
RC 60601
by Douglas Porch
read by Gregory Gorton
6 cassettes
The author of The French Secret Services (RC 43366) outlines the battles in
Africa, Greece, Syria, Tunisia, and Italy during World War II. Asserts the
importance of this theater of military operations that kept Italy out of the
war and Spain and Turkey neutral while diverting German assets south. 2004.

I Feel Good: A Memoir of a Life of Soul
RC 60883
by James Brown
read by Chuck Young
2 cassettes
Autobiography of the outspoken "Godfather of Soul." Brown describes
his
childhood in the segregated South, personal life, legal troubles, and career
in the music business. Assesses his impact on American culture during the 1960s
civil rights movement. Introduction by Marc Eliot. Some strong language. 2005.

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
RC 61162
by Doris Kearns Goodwin
read by Robert Sams
7 cassettes in 2 containers
Pulitzer Prize-winner illustrates the political acumen of Abraham Lincoln.
Highlights the careers of Lincoln's three prime competitors in the Republican
party—William Seward, Salmon Chase, and Edward Bates, men more qualified and
educated, whom he beat for the 1860 nomination for chief executive. Discusses
their subsequent appointments to the cabinet. Bestseller. 2005.

One Hundred Great Poems of the Twentieth Century
RC 61179
edited by Mark Strand
read by Kimberly Schraf
2 cassettes
Pulitzer Prize winner and former poet laureate of the United States Mark Strand
presents poems that he has "continued to feel strongly about over the
years." Most were written by poets born before 1927 and represent Europe
and North and South America. 2005.

A Tale of Love and Darkness
RC 61238
by Amos Oz
read by Ken Kliban
5 cassettes
Israeli author's literary memoir of growing up in war-torn Jerusalem in the
1940s and 1950s. Describes his multilingual, book-loving, Jewish family of
European background while examining events including the Holocaust. Contemplates
his mother's suicide when he was twelve as a pivotal event ending his childhood.
2003.

SPIN: Twenty Years of Alternative Music; Original Writing on Rock, Hip-Hop,
Techno, and Beyond
RC 61272
edited by Will Hermes
read by Mark Ashby
4 cassettes
Articles from SPIN magazine that highlight artists and musical movements since
1985. Includes essays and interviews on Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Courtney
Love, Phish, Eminem, Tupac, and OutKast as well as grunge, goth, rap-rock,
Britpop, Napster, and other trends. Strong language. For senior high and older
readers. 2005.

The Great Mortality: An Intimate History of the Black Death, the Most
Devastating Plague of All Time
RC 61279
by John Kelly
read by Michael Russotto
3 cassettes
The author uses fourteenth-century records to document the epidemic that swept
through Eurasia—killing a third of the population in Europe as well as
livestock. Describes daily life, steps taken to avoid contagion, the rise of
anti-Semitism, and the social and economic effects of the catastrophic loss
of life. 2005.

John Brown, Abolitionist: The Man Who Killed Slavery, Sparked the Civil War,
and Seeded Civil Rights
RC 61280
by David S. Reynolds
read by Ted Stoddard
5 cassettes
Author of Walt Whitman's America (RC 41371) presents a cultural biography of
abolitionist John Brown (1800–1859). Argues that Brown's most violent
activities, like the Harper's Ferry raid, were inspired by nineteenth-century
America's social and political conditions. Traces Brown's family origins and
his posthumous influence. Some violence. 2005.

Rounding the Horn: Being the Story of Williwaws and Windjammers, Drake,
Darwin, Murdered Missionaries, and Naked Natives—A Deck's-Eye View of Cape
Horn
RC 61283
by Dallas Murphy
read by Steven Carpenter
3 cassettes
Journalist and author of Apparent Wind (RC 35271) recounts his voyage in 2000
to Cape Horn, South America's southernmost point and the gateway of the Drake
Passage. Murphy describes his adventures along with those of mariners and
explorers from past history. 2004.

Forever a Soldier: Unforgettable Stories of Wartime Service
RC 61291
edited by Tom Wiener
read by Steven Carpenter
2 cassettes
Veterans recall experiences of battle from World War I to the war in Iraq.
Soldiers' letters, diaries, memoirs, and oral histories provide personal
accounts of D-Day, the Tet offensive, heroic actions, and sinking ships.
Includes an interview with Senator John McCain about his captivity in Vietnam.
2005.

Red Hot Salsa: Bilingual Poems on Being Young and Latino in the United States
RC 61296
edited by Lori Marie Carlson
read by Peter Gil
1 cassette
Poems in English, Spanish, or a blend of both speak to themes of identity,
neighborhoods, love, family, memories, and victory. Contains an introduction
by Oscar Hijuelos, a glossary of selected Spanish terms, and biographical notes
on the poets. In English and Spanish. For junior and senior high readers. 2005.

A Life of Discovery: Michael Faraday, Giant of the Scientific Revolution
RC 61302
by James Hamilton
read by David Cutler
4 cassettes
Art historian chronicles the life and accomplishments of British chemist and
physicist Michael Faraday (1791–1867), known for his discoveries relating to
electricity. Portrays Faraday in a cultural rather than scientific context,
highlighting his interests including religion, drawing and painting, and a
desire to teach others about natural scientific laws. 2002.

A Perfect Red: Empire, Espionage, and the Quest for the Color of Desire
RC 61303
by Amy Butler Greenfield
read by Anne Flosnik
3 cassettes
Cultural history of red dye going back centuries. Traces the color's
significance in various societies, the difficulty in finding a natural source
in Europe, and Spain's economic triumph in locating and monopolizing the cochineal
supply from Mexico for several hundred years. Describes other nations' attempts
to penetrate cochineal's mysteries. 2005.

Queen Bee Moms and Kingpin Dads: Dealing with the Parents, Teachers,
Coaches, and Counselors Who Can Make—or Break—Your Child's Future
RC 61344
by Rosalind Wiseman
read by Lee Adams
3 cassettes
Author of Queen Bees and Wannabes (RC 55407) advises parents to model good
behavior in difficult situations to set an example for their children. Explains
the unspoken rules of being a perfect parent and describes ways to achieve
a balance between overprotection and passivity. 2006.

Mao: The Unknown Story
RC 61346
by Jung Chang and Jon Halliday
read by Robertson Dean
6 cassettes
Chang, author of Wild Swans (RC 34458), and university researcher Halliday
detail the exploits of Chinese leader Mao Tse-tung (1893–1976), who they claim
is responsible for more than seventy million deaths. Drawing on archives,
published works, and interviews with Mao's former associates, the biographers
portray a ruthless dictator. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions
of sex. 2005.

Sex and the Seasoned Woman: Pursuing the Passionate Life
RC 61347
by Gail Sheehy
read by Kate Reading
3 cassettes
The author of Passages (RC 43929) and Understanding Men's Passages (RC 46534)
examines the way women of the baby boom generation are awakening to a "second
adulthood" and are reevaluating the roles of sex, love, romance, and marriage
in their lives. Explicit descriptions of sex and strong language. 2006.

Dr. Gavin's Health Guide for African Americans
RC 61423
by James R. Gavin III
read by Bill Quinn
2 cassettes
President of the Morehouse College School of Medicine offers guidelines for
controlling health problems common among African Americans such as obesity,
hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disorders. Advocates making
incremental lifestyle changes to eat healthier, exercise more, and reduce
stress. An American Diabetes Association publication. 2004.

The Mom Book Goes to School: Insider Tips to Ensure Your Child Thrives in
Elementary and Middle School
RC 61439
by Stacy DeBroff
read by Anne Hancock
3 cassettes
Parental guide to enhancing a child's educational experience by taking a
proactive role at home and school. The author, a parenting expert, addresses
common behavioral, academic, and social issues and offers advice on bolstering
student-teacher relationships, coping with learning disabilities, helping a
child who is struggling academically, and more. 2005.

Hip: The History RC 61445
by John Leland
read by Constance Crawford
3 cassettes
Former SPIN columnist traces the origins of "hipness" to the era
of American
slavery. Discusses "hip" movements in music, literature, and fashion
in the
twentieth century. Examines the roles of cultural and racial identity in the
perception of what is cool. Strong language. For senior high and older readers.
2004.

Dove RC 61462
by Robin Lee Graham
read by Ray Childs
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Author's true account of adventure when, at age sixteen, he set sail from
California for a solo, around-the-world voyage aboard his twenty-four-foot
sloop, Dove. Chronicles the five-year, 36,000-mile trip during which he met
and fell in love with American Patti Ratterree—his future wife. For senior
high and older readers. 1972.

When I Was a Soldier RC 61463
by Valérie Zenatti
read by Anne Hancock
1 cassette
French-born Israeli immigrant Valérie Zenatti recounts her compulsory
military
service from ages eighteen to twenty. Describes her conflicting emotions about
national identity, being a soldier, homesickness, breaking up with her
boyfriend, and training to shoot to kill. Some strong language. For senior
high readers. 2002.

Flag: An American Biography RC
61466
by Marc Leepson
read by Dan Bloom
3 cassettes
A look at what's behind the special feeling Americans have for their flag.
Traces its history from the Revolutionary War to its twenty-first-century role
in the war against terrorism. Leepson describes the events and personalities
that created the flag and made it a symbol of pride for the nation. 2005.

The Apache Indians: In Search of the Missing Tribe RC
61467
by Helge Ingstad
read by Dan Bloom
2 cassettes
Account by Norwegian explorer Ingstad (1899–2001) of his 1930s search for a
band of Apache Indians believed to have fled U.S. reservations for Mexico's
Sierra Madre mountains. Describes his sojourn among White Mountain Apaches
in Arizona and his quest to find their "lost" brethren. Translated
by Janine K. Stenehjem. 1945.

The Glass Castle: A Memoir RC
61540
by Jeannette Walls
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Reporter for MSNBC.com looks back on her unsettled life. Describes growing
up in a dysfunctional family, which was always on the move. She recalls her
father's dream of building a "glass castle," and relates how she
and her siblings escaped to make lives of their own. Strong language. 2005.

The Dominion of War: Empire and Liberty in North America, 1500–2000
RC 61545
by Fred Anderson and Andrew Cayton
read by Bill Wallace
5 cassettes
Professors reinterpret the history of North America, emphasizing the centrality
of wars and expansionism to U.S. development. Traces patterns of imperialism
over five centuries by focusing on eight individuals from Samuel de Champlain
to Colin Powell. Some violence. 2005.

The Heart of a Soldier: A True Story of Love, War, and Sacrifice
RC 61551
by Kate Blaise
read by Kerry Cundiff
3 cassettes
Account of Missouri high school sweethearts Kate and Mike Blaise. Describes
their decision to join the army together and their deployment to Iraq in March
2003. Discusses their family life, training, seven-year marriage, and Mike's
tragic death while piloting a helicopter. Some violence. 2005.

Sex and the City RC 61552
by Candace Bushnell
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Collection of pieces from Bushnell's "Sex and the City" column originally
published in the New York Observer. Essays discuss the relationships of Bushnell
and women friends, who have what she describes as "a never-ending series
of freakish and horrifying experiences with men." Descriptions of sex
and strong language. 2001.

Lion of Hollywood: The Life and Legend of Louis B. Mayer RC 61573
by Scott Eyman
read by Robert Sams
5 cassettes
Author of Mary Pickford (RC 31374) provides a biography of film producer and
MGM studios founder. Details Mayer's life (1885–1957) from his birth into a
devout Russian Jewish family to his powerful, four-decade career as a star-maker.
Describes MGM's organization, values, and roster of stars. 2005.

Buster Keaton: Tempest in a Flat Hat
RC 61581
by Edward McPherson
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
Biography of multitalented actor Buster Keaton (1895–1966). Traces Keaton's
career from his start in vaudeville to his success in silent film, work in
talking pictures, and rise as a television pioneer. Covers the period in the
1930s when Keaton's dismissal from MGM intensified his struggles with alcohol
and depression. 2004.

The Beatles: The Biography RC 61584
by Bob Spitz
read by Steven Carpenter
7 cassettes in 2 containers
Music journalist pens a history of the British rock 'n' roll band that launched
a cultural revolution. Uses primary sources to trace each band member's family
history, recording sessions, concerts, and business deals. Also discusses fast-lane
lives of drugs, sex, and excess. Strong language. 2005.

Lab 257: The Disturbing Story of the Government's Secret Plum Island Germ
Laboratory RC 61588
by Michael Christopher Carroll
read by Mary Kane
3 cassettes
Charts from 1954 the history of New York's Plum Island, home of the federal
Animal Disease Center and what the author claims are Earth's "deadliest
germs." Details the center's experimental breakthroughs and blunders,
links to Lyme disease and West Nile virus, and post-September 11, 2001, research
into biological warfare. 2004.

Assassination Vacation RC 61591
by Sarah Vowell
read by Colleen Delany
2 cassettes
Journalist visits sites associated with the first three assassinated American
presidents: Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, and William McKinley. Relates
pieces of historical trivia, including the fact that Robert Todd Lincoln was
present at all three shootings. 2005.

Born Fighting: How the Scots-Irish Shaped America
RC 61597
by James Webb
read by Erik Synnestvedt
2 cassettes
The former Secretary of the Navy examines the Scottish-Irish heritage in the
United States. Posits that the Celtic fighting spirit and attitudes of
egalitarianism, individualism, and personal honor form the bedrock of America's
working-class culture. Traces the immigration of his forebears from the eighteenth
century. 2004.

My Life in France RC 61606
by Julia Child
read by Kimberley Farr
2 cassettes
The chef who changed America's culinary habits writes about the years after
World War II that she spent in France. Julia Child recalls the difficulty of
being an American in a French cooking school and the hard-won publication of
her book on French cooking for Americans. 2006.

It Takes a Family: Conservatism and the Common Good RC 61613
by Rick Santorum
read by Jack Fox
3 cassettes
U.S. senator from Pennsylvania describes his own conservative political views
in terms of the founders' vision for the country. Discusses social capital,
prosperity, morals, pop culture, and education. Offers proposals for initiatives
to enable every family to succeed economically and morally. 2005.

An End to Suffering: The Buddha in the World
RC 61617
by Pankaj Mishra
read by Jack Fox
3 cassettes
Indian author of the novel The Romantics (RC 52514) presents his
autobiographical journey on the subcontinent exploring Buddhist philosophy.
Describes his search to understand Buddha's relevance in the modern world by
discussing the personal and social issues that Buddha addressed and their impact
on twentieth-century politicians. 2004.

Kremlin Rising: Vladimir Putin's Russia and the End of Revolution
RC 61620
by Peter Baker and Susan Glasser
read by Lou Harpenau
4 cassettes
Washington Post reporters in Moscow trace the rise of Vladimir Putin and the
changes in Russia since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. Posits that
the
former KGB officer plans to return the country to its authoritarian past.
Relates citizens' accounts of problems experienced under Putin's leadership.
2005.

Extreme Sports: In Search of the Ultimate Thrill
RC 61624
by Joe Tomlinson
read by John Polk
1 cassette
Discusses a wide range of extreme sports and leading figures in those fields.
Covers air, land, and water sports including bungee jumping, hang gliding,
skydiving, mountain biking, snowboarding, scuba diving, and surfing. For junior
and senior high readers. 2004.

Bad Childhood—Good Life: How to Blossom and Thrive in Spite of an Unhappy
Childhood RC 61636
by Laura Schlessinger
read by Mary Kane
2 cassettes
Radio talk-show host addresses the concerns of adults still suffering with
childhood pain and offers advice on becoming more secure. Uses examples from
her callers to admonish readers to not remain "victims" but to take
charge and change their behavior and attitudes. Bestseller. 2006.

The Assassins' Gate: America in Iraq RC 61640
by George Packer
read by Mark Ashby
4 cassettes
Writer for the New Yorker surveys the causes and course of the war in Iraq.
Analyzes the liberal and neoconservative political arguments that led to the
conflict and their consequences. Interviews civilians, soldiers, and returning
émigrés to portray the rebuilding of Iraq. Violence and strong language.
2005.

The Whole Equation: A History of Hollywood
RC 61648
by David Thomson
read by Robert Sams
4 cassettes
Film critic profiles Hollywood from its creation in the 1900s to the early
twenty-first century. Depicts studio heads like Louis B. Mayer and David O.
Selznick, their stars, and their films. Also describes the growth of the Los
Angeles area and the work of developers like William Mulholland. 2004.

The Next Attack: The Failure of the War on Terror and a Strategy for Getting
It Right RC 61650
by Daniel Benjamin and Steven Simon
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
The authors of The Age of Sacred Terror (RC 55953) contend that U.S. military
interventions are jeopardizing the war against radical Islamists. Describes
terrorists' use of the Internet to spread their ideology, the role of Christian
evangelism in foreign policy, and the influence of Muslims in America. 2005.
RC 61650

The Other Side of Me RC 61653
by Sidney Sheldon
read by Bob Moore
2 cassettes
An award-winning screenwriter, playwright, and novelist reminisces about his
rags-to-riches life, from an impoverished childhood in Depression-era Chicago
to success in Hollywood and on Broadway. Describes the celebrities he has worked
with, his personal tragedies, and his lifelong struggle with manic depression.
2005.

The Science and Fiction of Autism RC 61673
by Laura Schreibman
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
California psychologist and researcher offers a comprehensive guide to autism
in the context of historical and contemporary controversies surrounding the
disorder. Evaluates conflicting information regarding causes, characteristics,
diagnosis, and treatments while maintaining that autism is biological in origin
and not a result of parental behavior. 2005.

Mimi and Toutou's Big Adventure: The Bizarre Battle of Lake Tanganyika
RC 61690
by Giles Foden
read by George Holmes
2 cassettes
Africa, 1915. Relates the World War I mission of the oldest lieutenant commander
in the British Royal Navy, who with twenty-eight men and two gunboats—Mimi
and Toutou—was dispatched 2,500 miles overland to Lake Tanganyika in east Africa.
Their mission: to sink the German steamers that patrolled this vast lake. 2004.

Tower of Babble: How the United Nations Has Fueled Global Chaos
RC 61712
by Dore Gold
read by Lewis Grenville
2 cassettes
Author of Hatred's Kingdom(RC 55888) and former Israeli ambassador to the United
Nations asserts that the organization has failed to stop aggression and protect
human rights. Outlines the U.N.'s policies in Rwanda and Bosnia, inability
to stop terrorism, and lack of moral clarity. 2004.

The Lost German Slave Girl: The Extraordinary True Story of Sally Miller and
Her Fight for Freedom in Old New Orleans
RC 61720
by John Bailey
read by Frank Coffee
2 cassettes
Australian historian describes the nineteenth-century trial between German
immigrants and a slave owner. Using court transcriptions and newspaper articles
Bailey details the Schuber family's argument that slave Sally Miller was really
Salomé Müller, their relative, and that her childhood employer
had enslaved and sold the indentured servant. Strong language. 2003.

Edmund Wilson: A Life in Literature RC 61773
by Lewis M. Dabney
read by Bill Wallace
5 cassettes
Biography of twentieth-century literary and cultural critic and well-known
diarist Edmund Wilson (1895–1972), who worked at the New Republic and the New
Yorker. Uses Wilson's correspondence and interviews with his friends and
colleagues to chronicle his professional and personal life that included four
marriages—the third to writer Mary McCarthy. 2005.

Strong at the Heart: How It Feels to Heal from Sexual Abuse
RC 61782
by Carolyn Lehman
read by Gabriella Cavallero
1 cassette
Personal accounts of nine survivors of rape, molestation, or incest at young
ages. They discuss their experiences and the people who helped them reclaim
their lives. Lists resources including assistance hotlines, books, movies,
organizations, and web sites. Explicit descriptions of sex and violence. For
junior and senior high readers. 2005.

Moondust: In Search of the Men Who Fell to Earth
RC 61787
by Andrew Smith
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Journalist tracks down the nine surviving Apollo astronauts who walked on the
moon between 1969 and 1972. Interviews each spaceman—from the first to land
on
the lunar surface, Neil Armstrong, to the last, Gene Cernan—to learn what they
felt about their missions and how they reconciled with Earthbound life. Some
strong language. 2005.

The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance
RC 61788
by Henry Petroski
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
A professor and civil engineer's history of the pencil. Presents it as a product
of immense complexity and sophistication and as a "paradigm for the engineering
process generally." Petroski examines the creation, craftsmanship, engineering,
manufacture, and business of producing pencils on both sides of the Atlantic.
1989.

Before the Fallout: From Marie Curie to Hiroshima
RC 61800
by Diana Preston
read by Jake Williams
3 cassettes
British historian and author of Lusitania (RC 55923) chronicles five decades
of scientific discovery culminating in the 1945 atomic bomb detonation over
Japan. Describes the work of Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, Ernest Rutherford,
Manhattan Project leader J. Robert Oppenheimer, and others who unlocked the
secrets of nuclear physics. 2005.

Washington's Secret War: The Hidden History of Valley Forge
RC 61803
by Thomas Fleming
read by Bill Wallace
3 cassettes
Historian, using primary documents, describes how General George Washington
kept the ragged Continental Army intact in Pennsylvania during the winter of
1777–1778. Argues that after the British captured Philadelphia, Washington's
rivals conspired to have him removed, but he "outmaneuvered his political
enemies, and rescued the Revolution from extremism." 2005.

The Prison Angel: Mother Antonia's Journey from Beverly Hills to a Life of
Service in a Mexican Jail
RC 61811
by Mary Jordan and Kevin Sullivan
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post reporters chronicle the life of Mary
Clarke, twice-divorced mother of seven who, at age fifty, abandoned an affluent
lifestyle, donned a habit, and moved to Tijuana's notorious La Mesa prison.
Describes twenty-seven years of her humanitarian work and efforts to improve
the Mexican justice system. 2005.

The Grieving Teen: A Guide for Teenagers and Their Friends
RC 61852
by Helen Fitzgerald
read by Michele Schaeffer
1 cassette
Grief counselor and author of The Mourning Handbook (RC 49619) offers practical
suggestions for teens coping with loss. Discusses scenarios including illness,
death, funerals, and mourning. Describes ways to resume life and deal with
the future. For senior high and older readers. 2000.

The Pet Lover's Guide to First Aid and Emergencies
RC 61875
by Thomas K. Day
read by Barbara Caruso
1 cassette
Veterinarian explains how to recognize and treat dogs' and cats' common medical
emergencies including heatstroke, broken bones, lacerations, poisoning, allergic
reactions, and skin, ear, and eye conditions. Provides instructions for performing
CPR and preparing a first aid kit. Guide is organized by symptom and severity
level, not clinical diagnosis. 2006.

Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul's The Real Deal: School-Cliques, Classes,
Clubs, and More RC 61880
by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor
read by Catherine Byers
2 cassettes
Anecdotes by teens about the highs and lows of high school life and about peer
pressure, bullying, stress, gossip, moving, and cliques. Provides encouragement
and advice on making positive changes and good choices. For senior high readers.
2005.

Misquoting Jesus: The Story behind Who Changed the Bible
and Why RC 61941
by Bart D. Ehrman
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Biblical historian posits that scribes' alterations to New Testament manuscripts
reflect both human error and the influence of theology, culture, and politics.
Explores the development of written scripture from the Greco-Roman era, the
effect of inconsistencies on doctrine and later versions, and attempts to reconstruct
original text. Bestseller. 2005.

No End in Sight: My Life as a Blind Iditarod Racer RC
61948
by Rachael Scdoris and Rick Steber
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
Twenty-one-year-old author discusses her Oregon childhood, her experience with
low vision, and her determination to become a professional sled dog racer.
Describes being introduced to the sport by her father, becoming the youngest
athlete to win a five-hundred-mile race, and the obstacles she overcame to
qualify for the Iditarod. 2006.

Condi vs. Hillary: The Next Great Presidential Race RC
61956
by Dick Morris and Eileen McGann
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
The authors posit that the only candidate who can successfully defeat New York
senator Hillary Clinton for the U.S. presidency in 2008 is Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice. They compare the two women's past accomplishments, experience,
character, and reputations, and speculate on the type of leader each could
become. 2005.

The Brave Women of the Gulf Wars: Operation Desert Storm
and Operation Iraqi Freedom RC 61960
by Karen Zeinert and Mary Miller
read by Kerry Cundiff
1 cassette
Traces the roots of the Persian Gulf War of 1991 and the subsequent U.S.
military operations in Iraq. Discusses the roles of women in modern warfare—as
soldiers, correspondents, medics, and prisoners of war—as well as their peace
efforts on the home front. For junior and senior high readers. 2006.

The Battle for Social Security: From FDR's Vision to
Bush's Gamble RC 61961
by Nancy J. Altman
read by Jake Williams
3 cassettes
A pension rights advocate and former Harvard professor outlines the history
of the Social Security Administration since its establishment in 1935 by Franklin
Delano Roosevelt. Details George W. Bush's plan to implement private retirement
accounts and offers suggestions to strengthen the program as it exists during
the Bush presidency. 2005.

I'd Rather Be Working: A Step-by-Step Guide to Financial
Self-Support for People with Chronic Illness RC 61969
by Gayle Backstrom
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
Author with fibromyalgia offers a guide to finding a job that can accommodate
a chronic illness or disability. Discusses the Americans with Disabilities
Act, government programs, education and training, assistive technology, and
self-employment opportunities. Provides real-life examples and resources and
includes exercises to assess abilities and limitations. 2002.

The Best American Spiritual Writing 2005 RC
62010
edited by Philip Zaleski
read by Gordon Gould
2 cassettes
Thirty-four essays, short stories, and poems previously published in magazines. "Passed
On" by Thomas Lynch explores a young man's reason for becoming a funeral
director. In "Kaddish," Richard Chess prays for peace, safety, humility,
and life for all. Kenneth Woodward discusses Mel Gibson's film The Passion
of the Christ. 2005.

Do You Speak American? RC 62014
by Robert MacNeil and William Cran
read by Dennis Rooney
2 cassettes
Authors of The Story of English (RC 25965) recount their travels across the
United States to study regional dialects and assess the state of contemporary
American English. They report their findings on speech homogenization, declining
grammatical standards, African American and Spanish vernaculars, and the influence
of technology and media. 2005.

Child Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church RC
62032
edited by Louise I. Gerdes read by Peter Johnson
1 cassette
Sixteen essays by journalists, professors, psychiatrists, a victim, and a priest
explore sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests. Discusses issues of
celibacy, homosexuality, Church hierarchy, and policy towards victims. Includes
a message from Pope John Paul II and offers possible solutions to the problem.
For senior high readers. 2003.

Simple Courage: A True Story of Peril on the Sea RC
62150
by Frank Delaney
read by Frank Delaney
2 cassettes
Uses archives and interviews to document the December 1951 disaster befalling
the freighter SS Flying Enterprise while it crossed the Atlantic. Describes
thirty-seven-year-old captain Kurt Carlsen's effort to transfer all the
passengers and crew to lifeboats and his refusal to abandon ship after it was
damaged in a storm. Strong language and some violence. 2006.

Overcoming Life's Disappointments RC
62155
by Harold S. Kushner
read by Arthur Morey
2 cassettes
Rabbi Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People, cites the
biblical tale of Moses as inspiration for persevering in the face of adversity.
Also examines other role models—real and fictional—for their resilience, faith,
and boldly daring to dream. 2006.

Inspiration: Your Ultimate Calling RC
62202
by Wayne W. Dyer
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Educational counselor and author of The Power of Intention (RC 58050) explains
ways to lead an inspired life by recognizing and cultivating one's inner spirit.
Uses personal examples to show how anyone can tap inherent inspirational powers,
bring creativity and energy to daily activities, and find purpose. Bestseller.
2006.

The Number: A Completely Different Way to Think about
the Rest of Your Life RC 62226
by Lee Eisenberg
read by Bill Wallace
2 cassettes
Former Esquire magazine editor examines financial plans and strategies for
ensuring security and comfort in retirement. Eisenberg avoids specific
mathematical formulas. Instead, he recommends evaluating "the life you
want, the life you don't, and the costs of each." Strong language. 2006.

Your Name in Print: A Teen's Guide to Publishing for
Fun, Profit, and Academic Success RC 62234
by Elizabeth Harper and Timothy Harper
read by Kerry Cundiff
1 cassette
Journalist father and his college-age daughter offer teenagers, their parents,
and their teachers advice on the different types of writing for publication.
The two also guide would-be writers through the steps that are needed to get
their work into print. For senior high and older readers. 2005.

Under the Sabers: The Unwritten Code of Army Wives RC
62238
by Tanya Biank
read by Kerry Cundiff
2 cassettes
Journalist follows the experiences of four army wives with husbands of various
ranks at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, from 2000 to 2002. Describes successes
and hardships—one woman loses a son, another a husband, and a third is murdered—as
they struggle to balance family and military demands. Strong language. 2006.

When Christmas Comes RC 59692
by Debbie Macomber
read by Mimi Bederman
1 cassette
Emily Springer wants to be near her daughter in Boston for Christmas, while
Charles Brewster seeks a quiet place to work on his book. The two strangers
swap homes over the Internet, and surprises follow at their respective houses
as unsuspecting holiday visitors arrive. 2004.

The Tattooed Girl RC 60408
by Joyce Carol Oates
read by Laura Giannarelli
2 cassettes
Writer Joshua Seigl hires as his assistant Alma Busch, a shy, sensuous young
woman covered with crude, disfiguring marks. Although Seigl, unaware of her
anti-Semitism and painful history, is stirred by her demeanor, his naive
altruism leads to tragedy. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex,
and some violence. 2003.

The Cassandra Compact: A Covert-One Novel RC 60510
by Robert Ludlum and Philip Shelby
read by Don Hagen
3 cassettes
Covert-One operative Jon Smith travels to Venice to meet high-ranking Russian
medical intelligence official Yuri Danko. When Yuri is assassinated, Jon
uncovers a plot to smuggle smallpox into America. Jon, former British agent
Peter Howell, and CIA agent Randi Russell track the bio-weapon. Some violence
and some strong language. 2001.

Mildred Pierced: A Toby Peters Mystery RC 60618
by Stuart M. Kaminsky
read by John Lescault
2 cassettes
1944. Hollywood private investigator Toby Peters comes to the defense of his
friend, dentist Sheldon Minck, who was jailed for murdering his wife. When
Toby questions the sole witness, movie star Joan Crawford, she hires him to
stifle publicity. A survival group, meanwhile, wants Minck free but for different
reasons. Some strong language. 2003.

Life Studies: Stories RC 60890
by Susan Vreeland
read by Laura Giannarelli
2 cassettes
Seventeen short stories about creating art and about art's influence on people,
by the author of Girl in Hyacinth Blue (RC 49678). In "A Flower for Ginette," Monet's
gardener wants to keep a scrap of painted canvas so that his wife will always
have a flower in her room. 2005.

The Tarnished Eye RC 60893
by Judith Guest
read by Kate Kiley
2 cassettes
Rural sheriff Hugh DeWitt investigates the slaughter of a family—Edward Norbois,
his wife, and four children—at their summer cabin on Lake Michigan. Meanwhile,
in the Norbois's hometown of Ann Arbor, the police must deal with the serial
murders of coeds. Strong language and some violence. 2004.

Shalimar the Clown RC 61121
by Salman Rushdie
read by Ken Kliban
4 cassettes
After the illegitimate daughter of former ambassador Max Ophuls witnesses his
murder at the hands of his Muslim chauffeur, she uncovers a complex family
history. The threads involve her mother's escape from a narrow life as a
Kashmiri dancer and the reaction of the mother's scorned husband, Shalimar.
Strong language. Bestseller. 2005.

A Breath of Snow and Ashes: Outlander Series, Book 6
RC 61201
by Diana Gabaldon
read by Suzanne Toren
11 cassettes in 2 containers
Jamie Fraser and his time-traveling wife, Claire, are caught in the conflict
between Great Britain and its American colonies. Jamie knows from Claire that
Britain loses, but he tries to keep North Carolina loyal. Sequel to The Fiery
Cross (RC 53366). Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language.
Bestseller. 2005.

Reflex RC 61207
by Steven Gould
read by Lindsay Ellison
3 cassettes
A mysterious organization kidnaps National Security Agency operative Davy Rice
to use his teleportation powers. Davy's wife, Millie, searches frantically
for him with her own newfound teleporting skills. Sequel to Jumper (RC 37465).
Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. For senior high
and older readers. 2004.

Mystic Quest: The Bronze Canticles, Book 2 RC 61259
by Tracy Hickman and Laura Hickman
read by Kristin Allison
3 cassettes
Three bands of heroes, linked through dreams, undertake daring quests for the
salvation of their worlds. War-weary mystic Caelith Arvad leads his companions
in search of a legendary lost empire. Elsewhere, goblin Thux and a small
fellowship of Fae embark on similar journeys. Sequel to Mystic Warrior (RC
59628). 2005.

Red Light Wives RC 61278
by Mary Monroe
read by Victoria Gordon
3 cassettes
San Francisco. Six diverse women down on their luck feel they have no choice
but to work for pimp Clyde Brooks. The women bond together despite their problems
and help Clyde raise his handicapped daughter Keisha—until tragedy strikes.
Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2004.

The Best American Mystery Stories, 2005 RC 61295
edited by Joyce Carol Oates
read by Michele Schaeffer
3 cassettes
Twenty short stories of mystery, crime, and suspense. Includes Dennis Lehane's
"Until Gwen" as well as work by Scott Turow, Edward P. Jones, George
V. Higgins, Stuart M. Kaminsky, Laura Lippman, and others. Selected and introduced
by Joyce Carol Oates. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence.
2005.

Legends: A Novel of Dissimulation RC 61304
by Robert Littell
read by Michael Scherer
3 cassettes
So that his Israeli daughter can obtain a Jewish divorce, an ex-KGB agent hires
private detective Martin Odum, formerly a CIA operative, to find the agent's
son-in-law. Martin takes on the task but uncovers shady arms dealings and terrorists
in the search. Some violence and some strong language. 2005.

Rebel Angels RC 61311
by Libba Bray
read by Vanessa Maroney
3 cassettes
London, Christmastime 1895. Sixteen-year-old Gemma and friends Felicity and
Ann from the Spence Academy return to the realms to destroy Gemma's foe Circe.
Gemma must bind the magic that was released when she shattered the runes. Sequel
to A Great and Terrible Beauty (RC 58201). For senior high readers. 2005.

The Razor's Edge RC 61313
by W. Somerset Maugham
read by David Cutler
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Twenty-year-old WWI aviator Larry Darrell leaves Chicago and heads to Paris
seeking truth and meaning. In Larry's prolonged absence, his fiancée,
Isabel, marries wealthy broker Gray Maturin. Ruined by the depression years later,
Isabel and her family re-locate to Paris, where she and Larry reassess life
and love. 1943.

The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana RC 61314
by Umberto Eco
read by Ted Stoddard
3 cassettes
Milan, Italy. Antiquarian book dealer Yambo awakens from a coma unable to
recognize his wife, Paola, or to recall his personal history but able to
remember everything he's ever read. He returns to his family home hoping
artifacts from his past will restore his memory. Some descriptions of sex.
2004.

Abide with Me RC 61330
by Elizabeth Strout
read by Bernadette Dunne
2 cassettes
Maine, 1950s. Clergyman Tyler Caskey despairs after his wife's death and cannot
respond to his daughter's needs. He has little support from community
parishioners, who gossip about Tyler's possible affair with his housekeeper.
By the author of Amy and Isabelle (RC 48913). Some descriptions of sex, some
violence, and some strong language. 2006.

Intuition RC 61340
by Allegra Goodman
read by Kathe Mazur
3 cassettes
When the Philpott Institute of cancer research in Cambridge, Massachusetts,
needs grant money, Cliff Bannaker's experiments producing remission in mice
provide the perfect justification. But his scrupulous coworker—and girlfriend—
Robin Decker goes public with her suspicions of fraud. Some descriptions of
sex and some strong language. 2006.

Dark Watch: The Oregon Files RC 61355
by Clive Cussler
read by Mark Ashby
2 cassettes
Juan Cabrillo and his crew aboard the spy ship Oregon are hired by Japanese
shipping magnates to protect commercial freighters after several are stolen
by pirates on the seas off Southeast Asia. Cabrillo discovers an international
plot behind the thefts. Some violence and some strong language. 2005.

Act of War: A Major Jason Richter Adventure RC 61366
by Dale Brown
read by Jim Zeiger
3 cassettes
When the Environmental Movement Combat Alliance begins targeting multinational
energy companies with nuclear weapons, Army engineer major Jason Richter and
his high-tech military unit are dispatched to destroy them. As he tracks the
terrorists, Richter uncovers a mole in the U.S. government. Descriptions of
sex, violence, and strong language. 2005.

Field of Honor RC 61387
by D.L. Birchfield
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes
Oklahoma, 1976. After deserting his marine unit in Vietnam, Lance Corporal
Patrick McDaniel, a half-Choctaw with a psychiatric condition, discovers a
secret underground Choctaw civilization. Struggling for his own survival,
Patrick becomes ensnared in politics and romance. Some descriptions of sex,
some violence, and some strong language. Spur Award. 2004.

People of the Raven: The First North Americans, Volume 12
RC 61406
by Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear
read by Jim Zeiger
4 cassettes
Pacific Northwest, 9,300 years ago. Evening Star, a red-haired slave born to
the North Wind People, escapes and seeks refuge with Chief Rain Bear's Raven
People even though the two tribes are mortal enemies. Some descriptions of
sex and some violence. For senior high and older readers. Spur Award. 2004.

Thud! A Novel of Discworld
RC 61415
by Terry Pratchett
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
Commander Sam Vimes of the Ankh-Morpork Watch contends with a crew of dwarfs,
trolls, werewolves, golems, and humans and now must take on a vampire. With
the anniversary of an ancient battle between dwarfs and trolls looming, a murder
occurs and a painting that holds a secret is stolen. 2005.

Seven Ways from Sundown
RC 61416
by Clair Huffaker
read by Richard Davidson
1 cassette (Reissue)
Young greenhorn Seven Smith has been a ranger for only nine days when he's
sent out to capture fugitive outlaw Jim Flood. With Jim in custody, the two
men develop a strange friendship, but Sundown still has to turn him in. Some
violence and some strong language. 1960.

Burned: A Regan Reilly Mystery
RC 61425
by Carol Higgins Clark
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Los Angeles private investigator Regan Reilly, about to be married, joins her
girlfriend Kit Callan in Hawaii for a last fling. When the body of the resort's
social director, Dorinda Dawes, washes ashore, the hotel manager persuades
Regan to investigate. Suspects include assorted guests and a local millionaire.
2005.

Glory in Death: An Eve Dallas Mystery
RC 61428
by J.D. Robb
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
New York City, 2058. Lieutenant Eve Dallas investigates the murders of a
prosecutor and an actress. The only initial evidence linking them is their
relationship to Eve's enigmatic boyfriend, Roarke. Some explicit descriptions
of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 1995.

Crown of Slaves: Saganami Island, Book 1
RC 61441
by David Weber and Eric Flint
read by Derald Breneman
5 cassettes
When the Star Kingdom's ally Erewhon grows restive, Queen Elizabeth of Manticore
dispatches her niece on a diplomatic mission led by Captain Anton Zilwicki.
The envoy is undermined by deception, skullduggery, and radical freed-slave
organization leader Jeremy X. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence,
and some strong language. 2003.

The Sot-Weed Factor
RC 61442
by John Barth
read by Geoffrey Centlivre
7 cassettes in 2 containers (Reissue)
Sprawling pastiche of an eighteenth-century historical romance. Ebenezer Cooke,
a chaste London poet, travels to Maryland in the late 1600s to manage his father's
tobacco plantation and write an epic poem about the colony. His
misadventures involve pirates, Indians, and a fetching prostitute. Some
descriptions of sex and some violence. 1960.

Choose Me
RC 61444
by Xenia Ruiz
read by Constance Crawford
3 cassettes
Divorced Afro-Puerto Rican mother Eva is celibate because of a renewed interest
in religion. African American Adam, suffering from cancer, is cautious about
dating. When the two meet they gradually work out a relationship with the help
of God. 2005.

The Cinder Path
RC 61449
by Catherine Cookson
read by Pat Bottino
2 cassettes (Reissue)
England. After his father's death, sixteen-year-old Charlie MacFell manages
his family's farm. He experiences little hardships and disappointments until
a doomed marriage, conscription into the army during World War I, and a violent
cathartic act force Charlie to learn the meaning of life, death, and love.
Some violence. 1978.

By the Sword: Kerowyn's Tale
RC 61451
by Mercedes Lackey
read by Anne Hancock
4 cassettes
Story of Kerowyn, the granddaughter of the sorceress Kethry, that connects
the author's various books on Valde-mar. Young Kerowyn chases after bandits who
attacked the family keep and killed her father, wounded her brother, and
kidnapped his fiancée. 1991.

Leavin' Trunk Blues: A Nick Travers Mystery
RC 61452
by Ace Atkins
read by John Haag
2 cassettes
Musician Nick Travers leaves New Orleans for Chicago to help blues singer Ruby
Walker prove she didn't kill her lover, record producer Billy Lyons. Although
Ruby has been imprisoned for forty years, Travers hopes to find the true
culprit. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2000.

Thirteen Steps Down
RC 61454
by Ruth Rendell
read by Ray Childs
3 cassettes
Fitness equipment repairman Mix Cellini lodges in the crumbling London mansion
of elderly Gwendolen Chawcer. Mix obsesses about serial killers and supermodel
Nerissa Nash, while Gwendolen lives in the past. Gradually Mix becomes more
and more unhinged until he commits murder and the police close in. Some violence.
2004.

Autobiography of My Dead Brother
RC 61458
by Walter Dean Myers
read by Ray Childs
1 cassette
Childhood friends Jesse and Rise are growing apart. While fifteen-year-old
Jesse develops his interest in art, Rise turns to the Harlem streets under
pressure to be cool. When their long-established neighborhood social group
becomes a gang, more violence enters their community. Violence. For junior
and senior high readers. 2005.

The Tale of Hill Top Farm: The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter
RC 61460
by Susan Wittig Albert
read by Constance Crawford
2 cassettes
Lake District, England; 1905. Author Beatrix Potter, still mourning her fiancé's
death, buys a farm in the country. Villagers in nearby Sawrey are suspicious
of the sudden passing of local resident Abigail Tolliver. Beatrix and her pets
offer to help solve the mystery. 2004.

Done Deal: A John Deal Novel
RC 61464
by Les Standiford
read by John Haag
2 cassettes
Someone nearly runs building contractor John Deal off the road, stymies his
business, and forces his pregnant wife's car off a bridge. John links everything
to a Cuban racketeer's plot to bring major league baseball to south Florida.
Descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 1993.

Ghost Walk
RC 61468
by Heather Graham
read by Dan Bloom
2 cassettes
New Orleans. Haunted-tour guide Nikki DuMonde's employee Andrea dies from an
apparent drug overdose. But after seeing Andrea's ghost, Nikki thinks that
Andrea was murdered. Only paranormal investigator Brent Blackhawk believes
Nikki and together they track the killer. Some explicit descriptions of sex,
some violence, and some strong language. 2005.

The Sunflower
RC 61469
by Richard Paul Evans
read by Dan Bloom
2 cassettes
Christine Hollister is jilted by her fiancé a week before their wedding.
Her
best friend, Jessica, signs Christine and herself up for a humanitarian mission
to Peru's El Girasol (the Sunflower) orphanage. There Christine meets Paul
Cook, an American doctor who must also learn to love again. 2005.

Nobody Loves a Drunken Indian RC 61472
by Clair Huffaker
read by Ray Childs
2 cassettes
Arizona, 1960s. Hard-drinking Paiutes, led by Flapping Eagle (Flap), get
involved in ever wilder schemes to draw national attention to the plight of
their poverty-stricken reservation. They steal a train, fight bigoted cops,
and take over Phoenix. Basis for movie Flap. Strong language. 1967.

Ramage's Challenge: The Lord Ramage Novels, Book 15
RC 61498
by Dudley Pope
read by Erik Sandvold
2 cassettes
Still grieving over the disappearance of his wife, Sarah, Captain Ramage sails
the Calypso into enemy waters off Tuscany to rescue British officers and allies
captured by the French. Ramage's first love, Gianna, the Marchesa di Volterra,
is among the hostages. Sequel to Ramage's Trial (RC 61379). Some violence.
1986.

Return Engagement: Settling Accounts, Book 1
RC 61503
by Harry Turtledove
read by Jim Zeiger
5 cassettes
North America, 1941. The Confederate States of America led by Jake Featherston
puts down a black rebellion and resumes the war by attacking the North in
Philadelphia. U.S. socialist president Al Smith retaliates, Quebec takes over
Canada, and Europe is in turmoil. Violence and strong language. 2004.

Fame: Firstborn, Book 1
RC 61505
by Karen Kingsbury
read by Jill Ferris
2 cassettes
Movie star Dayne Matthews insists on an unknown female lead for his next film.
He chooses Christian theater director Katy Hart from Bloomington, Indiana.
But after testing the waters in Hollywood, Katy decides that God wants her to return
home. 2005.

The Keeper's Son: A Josh Thurlow Novel, Book 1
RC 61507
by Homer Hickam
read by David Hartley-Margolin
3 cassettes
North Carolina's Outer Banks, early 1940s. Josh Thurlow continues his family's
operation of Killakeet Lighthouse and commands a Coast Guard patrol boat. While
hunting German U-boats that target American vessels, Josh confronts someone
who could be his long-lost brother. Some descriptions of sex, some violence,
and some strong language. 2003.

The Tale of Holly How: The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter
RC 61509
by Susan Wittig Albert
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
English Lake District, 1906. Author Beatrix Potter and her pets are busy
restoring Hill Top Farm, near the village of Sawrey, when they discover the
body of a local shepherd. While investigating they also befriend an orphaned
girl who is ignored by her grandmother, Lady Longford. 2005.

River of Darkness: A John Madden Mystery
RC 61517
by Rennie Airth
read by David Hartley-Margolin
3 cassettes
Surrey, 1920s. Detective Inspector John Madden of Scotland Yard investigates
the well-planned murders of a couple and their household help in the quiet
countryside. While battling police bureaucracy, Madden, a veteran of the Great
War, is assisted by the local bobbies and an attractive woman doctor. 1999.

Sharpe's Prey: Richard Sharpe and the Expedition to Copenhagen, 1807
RC 61519
by Bernard Cornwell
read by Erik Sandvold
3 cassettes
England. Army lieutenant Richard Sharpe's career has stalled despite his heroics
in Sharpe's Trafalgar (RC 54862). Loveless and destitute, Sharpe faces life
as quartermaster until a friend recruits him for a secret mission to deliver
a bribe to Copenhagen in neutral Denmark. Some violence and some strong language.
2002.

The Masque of the Black Tulip
RC 61532
by Lauren Willig
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes
French spy known as the Black Tulip secretly arrives in Napoleonic England
in
search of a British agent, the Pink Carnation. He, or she, watches Lady
Henrietta Selwick and Miles Dorrington for clues. Sequel to The Secret History
of the Pink Carnation(RC 60668). Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005.

Beyond Black
RC 61533
by Hilary Mantel
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes
For five years divorcée Colette has lent her business skills to professional
psychic Alison, a clairvoyant beleaguered by spirits of the deceased. The women
attempt to reinvent themselves in the English countryside, where they face
material and metaphysical obstacles including nosy neighbors and ghostly
adversaries. Strong language. 2005.

If You Could See Me Now
RC 61534
by Cecelia Ahern
read by Erik Sandvold
2 cassettes
Thirty-four-year-old Elizabeth spends all her time managing her sister Saoirse's
problems and raising Saoirse's quiet six-year-old son Luke in their small Irish
town. When Luke develops an imaginary friend named Ivan that Elizabeth believes
in, too, Luke becomes more lively and Elizabeth's life improves in unexpected
ways. 2006.

Bruised Hibiscus
RC 61543
by Elizabeth Nunez
read by Gabriella Cavallero
2 cassettes
Trinidad, 1954. After a woman is murdered, two former friends reunite as they
pray for the victim. Rosa, a white woman, is married to an abusive black teacher
while Zuela has ten children with a drug-addicted Chinese man. Strong language,
some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2000.

A Fountain Filled with Blood: A Reverend Clare Fergusson Mystery
RC 61544
by Julia Spencer-Fleming
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Episcopal priest Clare Fergusson investigates a series of gay bashings after
police chief Russ Van Alstyne decides not to publicize the attacks. Clare and
Russ try to overcome their mutual attraction as the assaults continue in their
rural Adirondack town. Some strong language. 2003.

Whispers of the Dead: Fifteen Sister Fidelma Mysteries, Book 2RC 61547by Peter Tremayne
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Fifteen short stories featuring a seventh-century nun and trained lawyer, Sister
Fidelma of Ireland. In the title tale, an unknown peasant woman is discovered
dead and Fidelma is challenged to identify her and the cause of death. In "The
Banshee," she investigates a death wail. 2004.

Sharpe's Revenge: Richard Sharpe and the Peace of 1814RC 61548
by Bernard Cornwell
read by Erik Sandvold
3 cassettes
Napoleon's defeat ends the war, but peace eludes Major Richard Sharpe, who—having
been framed by his old enemy, French commander Pierre Ducos—stands accused
of stealing Napoleon's personal treasure. Sharpe escapes custody and attempts
to find Ducos, recover the goods, and clear his name. Violence and some strong
language. 1989.

Out of the Deep I Cry: A Reverend Clare Fergusson MysteryRC 61555
by Julia Spencer-Fleming
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes
Trouble begins after parishioner Mrs. Marshall offers to repair St. Alban's
church roof for Reverend Clare Fergusson. Using the trust funds will apparently
leave the local free clinic without any budget. When the clinic's doctor disappears,
Clare and police chief Russ Van Alstyne investigate. 2004.

Second Sunday RC 61556
by Michele Andrea Bowen
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
St. Louis, 1975. Pastor Clydell Forbes dies just months before Gethsemane
Baptist Church celebrates its centennial, leaving the congregation scrambling
for a replacement. Since the search committee hasn't located a suitable
minister, party girl Sheba Cochran leads Gethsemane's women on a search of
their own. Some descriptions of sex. 2003.

Goddess of the Ice Realm: The Lord of the Isles, Book 5
RC 61570
by David Drake
read by Michael Scherer
4 cassettes
As Prince Garric plans his coronation, the wizard Tenoctris predicts danger.
Garric's sister, Sharina, and his friend, Cashel, are transported to other
realms by evil magic while Cashel's sister Ilna and her beloved, Chalcus,
investigate threats in the north. Sequel to Mistress of the Catacombs (RC
55642). Some violence. 2003.

A Daughter's a Daughter and Other Novels: A Mary Westmacott Omnibus
RC 61576
by Agatha Christie
read by Anne Flosnik
4 cassettes
Three novels of family and conflict by crime writer Agatha Christie, penned
under the name Mary Westmacott. In the title piece, first published in 1952,
a daughter's opposition to her mother's plans to remarry threatens to destroy
their relationship. Also includes Unfinished Portrait (1934) and The Burden
(1956). 1934.

Green Money
RC 61578
by D.E. Stevenson
read by Corrie James
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Humorous tale of young Englishman George Ferrier, unexpectedly appointed the
trustee of Mr. Green's large estate. George's responsibilities include the
guardianship of Mr. Green's naive daughter, Elma, who is pursued by cads and
fortune hunters. Much to George's chagrin, Elma is also determined to become
a "modern" woman. 1939.

Thomasina
RC 61582
by Paul Gallico
read by Corrie James
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Scottish Highlands. When her beloved cat, Thomasina, is injured, Mary brings
the feline to her veterinarian father, Andrew. Instead of helping Thomasina,
Andrew puts her to sleep. After brokenhearted Mary falls ill, Andrew learns
the power of love and discovers Thomasina has more lives than one. 1957.

The Truth-Teller's Tale: The Safe-Keepers, Book 2
RC 61585
by Sharon Shinn
read by Laura Giannarelli
2 cassettes
Seventeen-year-old twins Eleda, who can tell only the truth, and Adele, who
cannot reveal others' secrets, are sorely tested by a newly arrived pair of
dancing instructors who are not what they seem. Romance and mistaken identity
challenge the twins' special gifts. For junior and senior high readers. 2005.

Last Resort: A Hideaway Novel, Book 3
RC 61590
by Hannah Alexander
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
Carissa Cooper, age twelve, who has been researching her family's past, suddenly
vanishes. Her psychic cousin Noelle Cooper, with help from longtime friend
Nathan Trask, eventually finds Carissa, just in the nick of time. As they search
for answers, Noelle and Nathan grow closer. Includes discussion questions.
2005.

Nightmare Academy: The Veritas Project, Book 2 RC
61594
by Frank Peretti
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
Sixteen-year-old twins Elijah and Elisha Springfield go undercover for the
Veritas Project to investigate a mysterious school that is sheltering runaway
teens for a sinister purpose. Their faith in God helps them through a dangerous
situation. For junior and senior high readers. 2002.

Coyote Rising: A Novel of Interstellar Revolution
RC 61612
by Allen M. Steele
read by John Polk
3 cassettes
Coyote moon, 2306. The original colonists who arrived aboard the starship
Alabama have abandoned the settlement, which is now threatened by
overpopulation, social ills, and repressive government. Those who remain are
poised for revolution. Sequel to Coyote (RC 60862). Some violence and some
strong language. 2004.

Cut and Run
RC 61615
by Ridley Pearson
read by John Polk
2 cassettes
Years ago U.S. marshal Roland Larson fell in love with protected witness Hope
Stevens, slated to testify against the Romero crime family. Now Hope and the
man who encrypted the witness protection list are missing, endangering thousands,
including Hope. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of
sex. 2005.

Sullivan's Justice RC 61616
by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg
read by Jill Fox
3 cassettes
California probation officer Carolyn Sullivan, from Sullivan's Law (RC 58379),
is shocked when her brother Neil is accused of killing his girlfriend. When
the murder of another woman occurs nearby, the police fear a serial killer.
As
Carolyn investigates, she suspects Neil's former lover. Strong language and
some violence. 2005.

Company Man RC 61622
by Joseph Finder
read by John Polk
3 cassettes
After CEO Nick Conover has to lay off half his workers, he is threatened and
his house is ransacked. When he kills a disgruntled employee in self-defense,
the head of his security department covers it up. But the police dig in for
an
investigation. Violence and strong language. 2005.

Olympos RC 61626
by Dan Simmons
read by Fred Major
6 cassettes
The population of terraformed Mars has vanished except for warring Greeks and
Trojans, who have temporarily allied to attack Olympos. Resurrected twentieth-century
professor Thomas Hockenberry accompanies an expedition to Earth, where humans
battle hostile creatures. Sequel to Ilium (RC 56883). Violence, strong language,
and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005.

Veronica RC 61634
by Mary Gaitskill
read by Colleen Delany
2 cassettes
Alison retreats to New York when her European modeling career ends. She
befriends Veronica Ross, an older bohemian, who contracts and dies from a new
disease called AIDS. Decades later the ruined beauty Alison, ill with hepatitis,
reminisces about their relationship. Explicit descriptions of sex and strong
language. Bestseller. 2005.

A Texan's Luck RC 61638
by Jodi Thomas
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
Texas, 1880s. Captain Walker Larson's father selects fifteen-year-old Lacy
in a "wife lottery," to marry his son by proxy. Three years later
Lacy and Walker
meet but have difficulty accepting each other. Sequel to When a Texan Gambles
(RC 57371). Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2004.

Uglies RC 61639
by Scott Westerfeld
read by Barbara Pinolini
2 cassettes
Tally, at age sixteen, is required to undergo a surgical procedure that would
turn her into a beauty. But Tally's new friend, Shay, refuses the operation
and runs away. The authorities insist that unless Tally finds Shay, she can't
become beautiful. For senior high readers. 2005.

Seven Legends West RC 61641
by Clay Fisher
read by Michael Russotto
2 cassettes
Seven tales of the western frontier. In "Pretty Face," trapper Hurd
Clinton
encounters a beautiful Sioux maiden and suspects a trap. In "The Chug-water
Run," Cheyenne renegades ransom an officer's daughter for gunpowder. Also
includes "The White Man's Road" and others. Some descriptions of
sex and some
violence. 1951.

The Europa Conspiracy: Babylon Rising, Book 3 RC
61645
by Tim LaHaye and Bob Phillips
read by Michael Scherer
2 cassettes
After The Secret on Ararat (RC 61301), biblical archaeologist Michael Murphy
travels to Babylon, where he hopes to decipher the ancient message of the Handwriting
on the Wall from the book of Daniel. There Michael faces the evil Talon. 2005.

Sisterchicks Down Under! RC 61649
by Robin Jones Gunn
read by Margaret Strom
2 cassettes
When her husband travels to Australia on business, California native Kathleen
Salerno goes along. She finds herself in a flip-flopped world with nothing
to do until she wanders into the Chocolate Fish and meets fellow Californian
Jill
Radovich. They quickly form a Sisterchick bond strengthened by their religious
beliefs. 2005.

Hitch RC 61652
by Jeanette Ingold
read by Michael Scherer
1 cassette
Montana, 1935. Seventeen-year-old Moss Trawnley joins the Civilian Conservation
Corps (CCC) during the Great Depression to earn money to help his family back
in Louisiana. In the corps, Moss learns to lead the other men while restoring
the land. For senior high readers. 2005.

Grind RC 61654
by Eric Walters
read by Mark Delgado
1 cassette
Phil and Wally are so obsessed with skateboarding that they start a web site
featuring their stunts. The more dangerous the action, the more hits on the
web site, and the more money they earn. But Wally's risk-taking ends disastrously.
A high-interest, low-vocabulary book. For senior high readers. 2004.

Sunstroke RC 61662
by Jesse Kellerman
read by Faith Potts
2 cassettes
Divorced, workaholic West Hollywood secretary Gloria Mendez receives a
disturbing voicemail from her boss, Carl Perreira, who is vacationing in Mexico—then
discovers he died in a car crash. Gloria goes to retrieve Carl's body but soon
questions whether he is really dead. Strong language and some descriptions
of sex. 2006.

A Christmas Guest RC 61671
by Anne Perry
read by Anne Flosnik
1 cassette
Cantankerous Grandmama from the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series solves a
mystery of her own after a visiting relative is murdered during the holidays.
The family's indifference to the death raises Grandmama's suspicions. Along
the way she uncovers secrets and discovers the meaning of Christmas. 2005.

Maigret and the Killer: An Inspector Maigret Mystery RC
61685
by Georges Simenon
read by Gordon Gould
1 cassette
Inspector Maigret is dining with his doctor when he is called to tend to a
wounded man in the street. The victim turns out to be wealthy student Antoine
Batille, who dies before revealing his killer. The murderer contacts Maigret
during the course of the investigation. 1969.

In a Dark House: A Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James Mystery RC
61687
by Deborah Crombie
read by Terry Donnelly
3 cassettes
London. Firefighters responding to an abandoned warehouse fire find a woman's
charred body. Detective superintendent Duncan Kincaid investigates while his
lover and former partner, Gemma James, looks into the seemingly unrelated disappearances
of a hospital attendant and a young girl. They soon discover their cases are
linked. Strong language. 2004.

The Master RC 61699
by Colm Tóibín
read by Robert Blumenfeld
3 cassettes
Fictional portrayal of the complex personality of Anglo American writer Henry
James. In 1895, James's play fails in London and he gradually returns to fiction.
His encounters with the privileged classes in Paris, Rome, Venice, and Florence
provide material for his psychologically penetrating novels. 2004.

The Last Hurrah RC 61700
by Edwin O'Connor
read by John Horton
3 cassettes (Reissue)
Prizewinning depiction of an Irish American political boss's seedy grandeur
in
early 1900's Boston. Frank Skeffington, former governor and long-undisputed
boss of the city, announces his run for reelection as mayor. Skeffington builds
his campaign but faces career-ending defeat when his enemies unite against
him. Some strong language. 1956.

The Rawhide Knot and Other Stories RC
61702
by Conrad Richter
read by Jeremy Gage
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Pulitzer Prize-winning author presents eight tales of pioneers who are ambushed
by love and the challenge of frontier life. In the title story, a group of
men bent on devilment attempt to "hatch up a marriage" between an
old maid and a young lawyer from back East. 1935.

Boss Lady RC 61704
by Omar Tyree
read by Saidah Arrika Ekulona
2 cassettes
California. Vanessa Smith from Philadelphia joins her screenwriter cousin Tracy
Ellison, from For the Love of Money (RC 58277). Vanessa attends college and
learns the business of producing a movie as Tracy's assistant. Strong language
and some explicit descriptions of sex. For senior high and older readers. 2005.

So Wild a Dream: Rendezvous, Book 1 RC
61705
by Win Blevins
read by Nick Sullivan
3 cassettes
1820s. Eighteen-year-old Sam Morgan leaves western Pennsylvania seeking
adventure and fortune in frontier America. Through his encounters with bandits,
soldiers, fur traders, Indians, and such historic figures as William Clark,
Sam learns the ways of mountain men. Some descriptions of sex, some violence,
and some strong language. Spur Award. 2003.

The Million-Dollar Marriage: Whirlwind Weddings RC
61710
by Eva Rutland
read by Gabra Zackman
1 cassette
Melody Sands is bored—until she notices the new gardener. Intrigued, she takes
him a thermos of coffee. Tony Costello is charmed and mystified by this woman
he believes is a secretary. After a whirlwind courtship turns into marriage,
Tony discovers that Melody is very rich. 1998.

Homeward Bound RC 61716
by Harry Turtledove
read by Nick Sullivan
5 cassettes
Concluding volume of Colonization and Worldwar alternate history series. In
2031 Earth is colonized by a race of lizard-like aliens. When Americans launch
a starship to the lizards' home-world, the lizards plot a preventive war that
could destroy Earth. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong
language. 2004.

Out of Range: A Joe Pickett Novel RC
61719
by C.J. Box
read by Peter Ganim
3 cassettes
Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett is temporarily reassigned to ritzy Jackson
Hole after colleague Will Jensen's apparent suicide. Though assailed by special-interest
groups, Pickett steers clear of politics until further investigation casts
suspicion on Jensen's death and doubt on Pickett's own safety. Violence and
strong language. 2005.

Ramage at Trafalgar: The Lord Ramage Novels, Book 16 RC
61765
by Dudley Pope
read by Erik Sandvold
2 cassettes
After reuniting with his beloved wife, Sarah, Captain Lord Ramage joins Admiral
Nelson's blockade of the French and Spanish navies in the port of Cádiz.
Nelson aims to confront the enemy head-on in the largest naval battle in history.
Sequel to Ramage's Challenge (RC 61498). Some violence. 1986.

The Wedding Night of an English Rogue: Boscastle Trilogy,
Book 3 RC 61766
by Jillian Hunter
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
England, 1814. With a former French spy on the loose, intelligence officer
Lord Heath Boscastle guards his commander's fiancée, Julia Hepworth,
whom he hasn't seen in six years. As their mutual desire reignites, Heath learns
Julia was betrayed and determines to win her heart. Some explicit descriptions
of sex. 2005.

Palms to the Ground
RC 61784
by Amy Stolls
read by Erik Sandvold
2 cassettes
The only child of an overprotective mother and a well-meaning father, neurotic
eighth-grader Calman Pulowitz travels from Boston to Walla Walla, Washington,
to spend a week with his pen pal. He learns a lot about himself while doing
things he's never done before. For junior and senior high readers. 2005.

Dinarzad's Children: An Anthology of Contemporary Arab American Fiction
RC 61785
edited by Pauline Kaldas and Khaled Mattawa
read by Gabriella Cavallero
3 cassettes
Two dozen short stories about cultural and generational issues by Arab Americans
including Christians, Muslims, immigrants, and assimilated Americans. In "The
New World," a Palestinian woman moves to Philadelphia and uncovers her
new husband's secret. In "Arabic Lessons," two teens study with their
cousin, a Lebanese nun. Strong language. 2004.

The Master Tanner Heads West RC 61791
by W.C. Bamberger
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Tanner Jarry Kenninac leaves Rhode Island with his artist wife, Dolley, and
two children, in search of the untamed West. They settle in Hugo, where in
a matter of weeks Dolley tires of Jarry's romanticism, Jarry befriends some
bizarre characters, and the town sheriff turns up dead. Violence. 2005.

A Good Yarn RC 61808
by Debbie Macomber
read by Jill Ferris
3 cassettes
Yarn shop owner Lydia Hoffman has several people interested in her class on
knitting socks: adults Elise and Bethanne and teenager Courtney. Each has her
own personal problems, but in the knitting group they find companionship and
comfort. Sequel to The Shop on Blossom Street (RC 58642). 2005.

The Texan's Reward: The Wife Lottery, Book 4 RC 61827
by Jodi Thomas
read by Michele Schaeffer
2 cassettes
Nell, the "wild child" from the Wife Lottery series, needs a husband
to help run her ranch. Jacob Dalton, who keeps rescuing Nell, hopes to prevent
her from making a big mistake, but instead falls in love. Sequel to A Texan's
Luck (RC 61638). Some descriptions of sex. 2005.

Mission Road: A PI Tres Navarre Mystery RC 61837
by Rick Riordan
read by Robert Sams
2 cassettes
San Antonio cop Ana DeLeon is gunned down as she prepares to charge her husband,
Ralph Arguello, with an eighteen-year-old murder on Mission Road. When Ralph
arrives at PI Tres Navarre's home covered in blood but proclaiming self defense,
Tres helps him flee authorities. Strong language and some violence. 2005.

A Toast before Dying: A Mali Anderson Mystery RC 61838
by Grace F. Edwards
read by Colleen Delany
2 cassettes
African American former policewoman Mali Anderson investigates the murder of
Harlem bartender Thea Morris. Thea's boyfriend, Kendrick Owen, is accused of
killing her, but his sister insists he's innocent. Mali uncovers secrets about
Thea's family while researching the case. Strong language, some descriptions
of sex, and some violence. 1998.

Cat's Eyewitness: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery RC 61841
by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown
read by Laura Giannarelli
2 cassettes
"Harry" Haristeen has quit her job as postmistress of Crozet, Virginia.
While visiting a monastery, she, her friend, and pets discover a statue of the Virgin
Mary shedding tears of blood—a harbinger of crises. Her friend's uncle, a monk,
is then found dead. Some violence and some strong language. 2005.

Bloodlines: An Irene Kelly Mystery RC 61855
by Jan Burke
read by Catherine Byers
4 cassettes
In 1958 five wealthy Ducane family members, including an infant, go missing
while a journalist witnesses an automobile's mysterious burial. In 1978 the
car is uncovered with human remains inside. Twenty years later reporter Irene
Kelly solves the intriguing case. Strong language and some violence. 2005.

Blood from a Stone: A Commissario Guido Brunetti
Mystery RC 61858
by Donna Leon
read by Peter Ganim
2 cassettes
Venetian detective Guido Brunetti investigates the assassination of an African
street vendor, an illegal alien. After finding uncut diamonds in the victim's
room, Brunetti is pulled off the case and other government agencies take over.
But Brunetti continues to doggedly pursue his own leads. 2005.

The Goodbye Body: A Claire Malloy Mystery RC 61861
by Joan Hess
read by Suzanne Toren
2 cassettes
When fumigation forces Arkansas bookseller Claire Malloy and her daughter from
their home, they accept an invitation from Dolly Goforth to stay at her estate
while she travels. They soon experience odd occurrences, including a corpse
that keeps appearing, then disappearing—and that's only the first body. Some
strong language. 2005.

Death of a Bore: A Hamish Macbeth Mystery RC 61866
by M.C. Beaton
read by John Horton
1 cassette
Scottish Highlands. An arrogant soap opera writer teaching a seminar on getting
published turns up dead after humiliating his students. Constable Hamish Macbeth
investigates the would-be authors and his own neighbors, each with a motive,
means, and opportunity. The case reunites Hamish with his former girlfriend,
reporter Elspeth Grant. 2005.

Listen for the Whisperer RC 61871
by Phyllis A. Whitney
read by Catherine Byers
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Following her father's death, Leigh Hollins sets out to find her mother, actress
Laura Worth, who gave her up at birth. Leigh finds her in Norway, but it is
not a happy reunion. Someone is trying to kill Laura, and now Leigh is also
in danger. 1971.

Looking for Alaska RC 61873
by John Green
read by Ken Kliban
2 cassettes
Entering boarding school in Alabama, sixteen-year-old Miles "Pudge" Halter
encounters new experiences: challenging classes, extreme pranks, and Alaska
Young, a moody, sexy girl whose death in a car crash might be a suicide. Some
explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. For senior high readers.
Printz Award. 2005.

Perfect Nightmare RC 61877
by John Saul
read by Gabra Zackman
2 cassettes
As Long Island residents Kara and Steve Marshall plan a move to Manhattan,
their seventeen-year-old daughter, Lindsay, vanishes. Police think that she
ran away. But after other girls disappear, Kara suspects foul play and vows
to find the criminal. Violence, some descriptions of sex, and some strong language.
2005.

Me, Dead Dad, and Alcatraz RC 61882
by Chris Lynch
read by J.P. Linton
1 cassette
Elvin Bishop, from Extreme Elvin (RC 49379), discovers that his late father's
brother isn't dead but has been in prison and is now released. Uncle Alex,
a diabetic, wants to save overweight Elvin from the same fate and begins a
physical fitness campaign. For senior high readers. 2005.

The Strong, Silent Type RC 61883
by C. Kelly Robinson
read by Bill Quinn
2 cassettes
African American ex-NFL star Deacon Davis—the son of a civil rights leader—loses
his job with a political party because of his stutter. Davis seeks help from
a speech clinic, where he falls for therapist Maria Oliver. Together they solve
family issues. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2005.

The Westerners RC 61887
by Zane Grey
read by Jeremy Gage
2 cassettes
A collection of nine short westerns by acclaimed author Zane Grey. In "The
Ranger," Texas lawman Vaughn Medill searches for a rich Mexican acquaintance's
missing daughter and finds himself in her kidnappers' clutches. Other stories
include "Lightning," "Of Whales and Men," and the title
piece. 2000.

The Tequila Worm RC 61891
by Viola Canales
read by Barbara Caruso
1 cassette
Sofia grows up in a loving Mexican American family of storytellers in a barrio
in McAllen, Texas. In ninth grade she accepts a scholarship to an exclusive
boarding school in Austin. There Sofia's upbringing and traditions help her
adjust to her new environment. For senior high readers. 2005.

The Earth and Sky of Jacques Dorme RC 61894
by Andreï Makine
read by Frank Coffee
1 cassette
A Russian orphan is befriended by a French nurse, who recalls a passionate
affair with pilot Jacques Dorme during World War II. Decades later, her tales
inspire the orphan—now a novelist exiled in France—to uncover the pilot's
story in Siberia. Companion to Dreams of My Russian Summers (RC 45019). 2003.

Just My Luck RC 61905
by Tajuana "TJ" Butler
read by Suzanne Toren
2 cassettes
On the day of her college graduation, thirty-eight-year-old African American
Lanita Powers gets a makeover at a Los Angeles salon, where she shares her
story of struggle, sacrifice, and success. Lanita's memories of youth and adulthood
include becoming a stripper, finding love, and returning to school. Some strong
language. 2005.

The Old Wine Shades: A Richard Jury Mystery RC 61939
by Martha Grimes
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes
On leave since The Winds of Change (RC 58862), detective Richard Jury is
intrigued by a tale physicist Harry Johnson tells at a pub: the family of
Johnson's friend disappeared and only the dog returned. Jury is investigating
when a body is found. Strong language and some violence. Bestseller. 2006.

Edge of Evil: An Ali Reynolds Mystery RC 61940
by J.A. Jance
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
When her L.A. network replaces television journalist Alison Reynolds with
someone younger, she returns to her childhood home in Sedona, Arizona. There
she begins an online therapy blog. After a friend's death is classified as
suicide, Alison investigates. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller.
2006.

The Winning Hand RC 61953
by C.K. Crigger
read by Jill Ferris
2 cassettes
Washington state, 1893. Caroline Pruett loses her thoroughbred stallion King
to cowhand Micah Sutton in a poker game. Caroline accidentally shoots Micah
while stealing King back. Only slightly wounded, Micah sets out after Caroline
to retrieve the horse, but Micah isn't the only one after King. Some violence. 2004.

Breakwater RC 61963
by Carla Neggers
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Quinn Harlowe finds the corpse of a former Department of Justice colleague
outside her Chesapeake Bay cottage and investigates. Nearby at Breakwater
Security, Huck McCabe seeks to infiltrate a group of mercenaries and joins
forces with Quinn. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some
strong language. 2006.

The Fallen RC 61998
by T. Jefferson Parker
read by Richard Davidson
3 cassettes
Twenty-nine-year-old San Diego homicide detective Robbie Brownlaw suffers from
synesthesia, a restless wife, and a new case. Former internal affairs cop
Garrett Asplundh, now a city ethics investigator, is murdered after uncovering
corruption in city hall that endangers the municipal bond rating. Strong
language and some violence. Bestseller. 2006.

The Two-Minute Rule RC 62000
by Robert Crais
read by J.P. Linton
2 cassettes
After serving ten years in prison, forty-six-year-old bank robber Max Holman
is released on parole only to discover his estranged son—an LAPD policeman—has
been murdered. Max contacts ex-FBI agent Katherine Pollard—the very agent who
arrested him-to help him find his son's killers. Strong language and some
violence. Bestseller. 2006.

After Midnight RC 62002
by Teresa Medeiros
read by Terry Donnelly
2 cassettes
London, 1820. Caroline, the eldest of the three orphaned Cabot sisters, hastens
to the city when her sister Vivienne falls in love with Adrian Kane, Viscount
Trevelyan, who is rumored to be a vampire. But sparks fly when the two meet.
Explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2005.

At the Mountains of Madness and Other Novels
RC 62005
by H.P. Lovecraft
read by George Holmes
4 cassettes
Collection of three novels and five short stories spanning the years 1919 to
1933. The title piece chronicles a university expedition to Antarctica, where
strange fossils and extremely old ruins are found. The Case of Charles Dexter
Ward is Lovecraft's masterpiece of demonic horror. Introduction includes author
biographical information. 1943.

Waiting for an Angel RC 62008
by Helon Habila
read by John Horton
2 cassettes
Lagos, Nigeria; 1990s. Follows Lomba and his transformation from apolitical
student to political prisoner. While working as a journalist Lomba attends
an
anti-junta rally and is arrested. His roommate and his first love also must
cope with the brutality and poverty around them. Violence. 2002.

Creepers RC 62011
by David Morrell
read by Jonathan Davis
2 cassettes
Reporter Frank Balenger, professor Robert Conklin, schoolteacher Vincent
Vanelli, and graduate students Rick and Cora Magill—urban explorers—enter an
abandoned hotel in New Jersey. But the "creepers" soon discover
that they are
not alone in the building and must rely on Balenger's army training. Violence
and strong language. 2005.

Poirot's Early Cases: A Hercule Poirot Mystery RC 62012
by Agatha Christie
read by Robert Blumenfeld
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Eighteen short mysteries in which Belgian detective Hercule Poirot and his
faithful friend Hastings unmask murderers, swindlers, drug dealers, and thieves.
In "The King of Clubs," a missing playing card helps solve a crime.
Also includes "Double Sin," "The Lost Mine," "The
Veiled Lady," and other tales. 1923.

Chasing Destiny: A Western Story RC 62015
by Stephen Overholser
read by Jeremy Gage
2 cassettes
When a prominent Colorado cattleman is robbed and murdered, gunmen kill the
suspect and identify the mangled body as that of ne'er-do-well Bobby Eckstrum.
Bobby's young daughter, Destiny, believes her father is alive and sets out
to find him. Destiny's friend Michael joins her on the trail. Some violence. 2005.

A Gladiator Dies Only Once: The Further Investigations of Gordianus the Finder;
A Roma Sub Rosa Mystery RC 62021
by Steven Saylor
read by Jeremy Gage
2 cassettes
Nine short stories on the early career of Roman investigator Gordianus the
Finder. In "The Consul's Wife," one of Rome's rulers believes his
wife might be planning to murder him at the chariot races and hires Gordianus
to investigate. In "Poppy and the Poisoned Cake," Gordianus unveils
a killer. 2005.

The Harlequin Tea Set and Other Stories
RC 62023
by Agatha Christie
read by Patricia Kilgarriff
2 cassettes
Nine short mysteries previously unpublished in the United States from magazines
for which the author wrote prior to her success. In the title story, an old
friend prevents a family murder; in "The Edge," a romantic rival
drives a cheating wife to her suicide. 1923.

Crooked House RC 62024
by Agatha Christie
read by Graeme Malcolm
1 cassette
Elderly Greek restaurateur Aristide Leonides dies in his suburban London
mansion, presumably poisoned by his much younger wife Brenda, who is rumored
to be romantically involved with his granddaughter's tutor. Charles Hayward
is hired to investigate the millionaire's death, but now he begins to suspect
the entire Leonides family. 1948.

The Magic Keys RC 62026
by Albert Murray
read by L.J. Ganser
2 cassettes
Enrolled in graduate studies at New York University and newly married, musician
Scooter frequents libraries, galleries, restaurants, and jazz clubs. He reminisces
with old friends Joe States, Taft Edison, and Roland Beasley and
contemplates moving back to Alabama. Sequel to The Seven League Boots (RC 46273).
Some strong language. 2005.

Hanukkah Lights: Stories of the Season from NPR's Annual Holiday Special RC 62028
selected by Susan Stamberg and Murray Horwitz
read by Suzanne Toren
1 cassette
Twelve stories celebrating Hanukkah by contemporary authors Myra Goldberg,
Daniel Pinkwater, Harlan Ellison, Dani Shapiro, Elie Wiesel, Mark Helprin,
and others. In Anne Roiphe's "The Demon Foiled," a new Jewish mayor attempts
to light the family Hanukkah candles while he is being filmed for local TV. 2005.

Weekend Warriors: Revenge of the Sisterhood, Book 1 RC 62093
by Fern Michaels
read by Catherine Byers
2 cassettes
After a driver with diplomatic immunity kills pregnant Barbara Rutledge, her
mother Myra, her best friend Nikki, and five other women form the Sisterhood
to help women get the justice and revenge they deserve. Some strong language.
2003.

Cycle of the Werewolf RC 62102
by Stephen King
read by Nick Sullivan
1 cassette
Someone—or something—is attacking residents of rural Tarker's Mills, Maine,
during the full moon. Only Marty Coslaw, a ten-year-old who uses a wheelchair,
knows the identity of the monster, but no one will believe him. Basis for
the 1985 movie Stephen King's Silver Bullet. Strong language and some violence.
1983.

Slow Man RC 62111
by J.M. Coetzee
read by Terry Donnelly
2 cassettes
A bicycle accident changes Paul Rayment's solitary, self-sufficient life.
Although his right leg is amputated, he refuses a prosthesis. Sixtyish, single,
and childless, he must learn to navigate anew, physically and mentally, and
he wonders whether he needs to be cared for—or loved. By 2003 Nobel Prize winner.
2005.

Coming Out RC 62139
by Danielle Steel
read by David Garrison
1 cassette
Olympia Crawford Rubinstein's careful world is turned upside down when her
twin daughters, Virginia and Veronica, are invited to a debutante ball. Virginia
and her father are enthusiastic, Veronica and her stepfather refuse to attend,
and Olympia's son Charlie has a crisis. Some descriptions of sex and some strong
language. Bestseller. 2006.

Blow the House Down RC 62141
by Robert Baer
read by Paul Michael
2 cassettes
In June 2001, CIA agent Max Waller loses his job in Langley, Virginia. After
the September 11 tragedies, he personally investigates Osama bin Laden to uncover
the truth behind the attacks. Meanwhile, someone targets Max. Violence, strong
language, and some descriptions of sex. 2006.

Blue Screen: A Sunny Randall Mystery RC 62142
by Robert B. Parker
read by Kate Burton
2 cassettes
It is Sunny Randall's job to protect starlet Erin Flint, the lover of sleazy
movie producer Buddy Bollen. After Erin's sister Misty is murdered in Buddy's
mansion, Sunny works with Jesse Stone, chief of police in Paradise,
Massachusetts, to expose a killer. Strong language, some descriptions of sex,
and some violence. 2006.

The Afghan Campaign RC 62143
by Steven Pressfield
read by John Lee
2 cassettes
In 330 BCE, Alexander the Great continues his conquest of the known world by
invading the Afghan kingdoms. Infantryman Matthias describes the hardships
he and his comrades endure while they battle proud, religious war lords who use
terrorist tactics to defend their homeland. Descriptions of sex, violence,
and some strong language. 2006.

Dead Days of Summer: A Death on Demand Mystery RC 62144
by Carolyn Hart
read by Kate Reading
2 cassettes
South Carolina bookstore owner Annie Darling is worried because her PI husband,
Max, failed to return home after beginning a new case. Then the body of a pretty
woman is discovered near Max's abandoned car—and the media leaps to conclusions.
Annie pursues the truth. Some strong language. 2006.

End in Tears: A Chief Inspector Wexford Mystery
RC 62145
by Ruth Rendell
read by John Lee
2 cassettes
The local media accuse Chief Inspector Wexford and his partner Mike Burden
of being too old-fashioned, but the two policemen succeed in tying together the
murder of a teenage girl and another killing. Now, Wexford worries about his
daughter, a pregnant single mother. Descriptions of sex, strong language, and
some violence. 2005.

The Hot Flash Club Chills Out RC 62147
by Nancy Thayer
read by Carrington MacDuffie
3 cassettes
Members of the Hot Flash Club house-sit on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts,
one summer and have adventures. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some
strong language. 2006.

Sandcastles RC 62148
by Luanne Rice
read by Ann Marie Lee
3 cassettes
After her husband John leaves her and their three daughters, Honor Dillon moves
the family and takes a teaching position at a convent school run by her sister-in-law
Sister Bernadette. Eleven years later John returns and family turmoil ensues.
Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2006.

Learning to Kill: Stories RC 62151
by Ed McBain
read by Stephen Hoye
3 cassettes
For this anthology the author selected twenty-five of his earlier stories
published in pulp magazines under the bylines Evan Hunter, Richard Marsten,
and Hunt Collins. Written in the 1950s, the tales are filled with damsels in
distress, PIs, and cops. Violence, strong language, and some explicit
descriptions of sex. 2006.

The Men I Didn't Marry RC 62152
by Janice Kaplan and Lynn Schnurnberger
read by Susan Denaker
2 cassettes
Empty-nester Bill abandons his wife Hallie for a fitness trainer. Hallie decides
to look up all her old boyfriends: Eric, a millionaire businessman; Barry,
a yogi; Kevin, a cinematographer; and, finally, the man who was her life's
great lost love. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2006.

Closing Costs RC 62154
by Seth Margolis
read by Susan Denaker
3 cassettes
Three tales interweave, revealing intrigue and scandal behind real estate sales
in the upscale Manhattan market that is managed by realtor Lucinda Wells. One
client flees the country and abandons his wife after being charged with embezzlement.
Another becomes the victim of a corporate ouster. Explicit
descriptions of sex and strong language. 2006.

Happiness Sold Separately RC 62156
by Lolly Winston
read by Cassandra Campbell
2 cassettes
Elinor and Ted Mackey are the perfect couple in a perfect marriage until they
learn that they can't have children. Elinor reacts by retreating into herself
while Ted begins an affair with Gina, a single mom with a jealous, violent
ex-boyfriend. Descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2006.

Waltzing at the Piggly Wiggly RC 62157
by Robert Dalby
read by Clarinda Ross
2 cassettes
Widow Laurie Lepanto is determined to keep her favorite supermarket in business
after the new Mega-Mart opens in Second Creek, Mississippi. She enlists the
help of widower and former ballroom dance instructor Powell Hampton and the
town's most influential widows to carry out her scheme. Some descriptions of
sex. 2006.

Ladies' Man RC 62159
by Suzanne Brockmann
read by Kathe Mazur
1 cassette
Single mother Ellen Layne falls for handsome NYPD detective Sam Schaefer and
begins an affair. When a stalker targets Ellen, she turns to Sam for protection.
Sam takes a bullet meant for Ellen while trying to discover who wants to kill
her—and why. Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2006.

Deceit RC 62160
by James Siegel
read by Phil Sheridan
2 cassettes
Tom Valle, a star reporter at a prominent newspaper, is disgraced after dozens
of his stories are proved to be fabricated. Exiled to a small-town paper in
California, Tom stumbles upon a conspiracy involving a nuclear reactor—but
who will believe him? Strong language and some violence. 2006.

Mystic Empire: The Bronze Canticles, Book 3
RC 62204
by Tracy Hickman and Laura Hickman
read by Kristin Allison
3 cassettes
As the violent binding of three parallel universes foretold by the ancient
Bronze Canticles approaches, the inhabitants of each realm—humans, faeries,
and goblins alike—face a devastating conflict unless they can coexist. But
peace can only be won with a yet undiscovered magic. Sequel to Mystic Quest
(RC 61259). 2006.

The Moon Witch: Sisters of the Sun, Book 2 RC 62208
by Linda Winstead Jones
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
Part-wolf Ryn rescues Juliet Fyne, a witch cursed to never know love, from
imperial soldiers. Ryn claims Juliet as his wife and takes her home, where
desire leads him to defy an ancient prophecy. Sequel to The Sun Witch (RC
61128). Explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. 2005.

Proof of Intent: A Charley Sloan Courtroom Thriller RC 62218
by William J. Coughlin and Walter Sorrells
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes
Attorney Charley Sloan is called to the home of his client, author Miles Dane,
where he discovers the body of Miles's wife, Diana. Despite evidence to the
contrary, Charley is convinced that Miles is innocent and proceeds to trial.
Violence and strong language. 2002.

Cherry Cheesecake Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery RC 62220
by Joanne Fluke
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
Baker Hannah Swensen caters to a movie crew in her Minnesota hometown, preparing
director Dean Lawrence's favorite cherry cheesecake. She rekindles a
relationship with a producer—to the chagrin of two local suitors—and
investigates murder when Dean shoots himself with what should have been a prop
gun. Includes recipes. 2006.

Beach Road RC 62327
by James Patterson and Peter de Jonge
read by Billy Baldwin
2 cassettes
Attorney Tom Dunleavy defends African American high school basketball player
Dante Halleyville against murder charges in the wealthy beach community of
East Hampton. Tom recruits help from his ex-lover, lawyer Kate Costello, while
dogged Detective Raiborne uncovers startling revelations. Strong language,
some descriptions of sex, and some violence. Bestseller. 2006.

The 5th Horseman: A Women's Murder Club Mystery
RC 62328
by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
read by Carolyn McCormick
2 cassettes
Homicide detective Lindsay Boxer and her colleagues in the Women's Murder Club
investigate suspicious deaths at the San Francisco Municipal Hospital, where
patients in recovery are suddenly dying at an alarming rate. Clues include
buttons on the corpses' eyes. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and
some violence. Bestseller. 2006.

Grape Expectations: A Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery with Recipes
RC 62436
by Tamar Myers
read by Kristin Allison
2 cassettes
Two Californians planning to build a resort winery in Hernia, Pennsylvania,
face stiff opposition from Mennonite residents. When one of the new owners
is found entombed in concrete at the resort's construction site, Hernia's new
police chief asks innkeeper and recently elected mayor Magdalena Yoder to help
investigate. 2006.

Books for Children

Cassettes Nonfiction

The Diary of Ma Yan: The Struggles and Hopes of a Chinese Schoolgirl RC 61465
by Ma Yan
read by Anne Hancock
1 cassette
The diary of a thirteen-year-old girl from a remote Chinese village relates daily events at school and at home. She protests leaving school to help work for her younger brothers' education, and records the sacrifices made by her illiterate parents to pay for the children's schooling. For grades 6-9. 2002.

Quicksand RC 61476
by Kris Hirschmann
read by Anne Hancock
1 cassette
Explains the scientific facts about quicksand, as opposed to the media myths. Describes how it forms, why it's dangerous, and what to do to avoid disasters. For grades 4-7. 2003.

The Juniper Tree and Other Tales from Grimm RC 61577
selected by Lore Segal and Maurice Sendak
read by Anne Flosnik
1 cassette
Twenty-seven stories translated from the Brothers Grimm collection of German
folktales. Features "Hansel and Gretel," "The Fisherman and His Wife," "Rapunzel,"
and lesser-known tales like the title piece, in which a wicked stepmother is
punished for her crime. Some violence. For grades 4-7. 1973.

Beowulf RC 61595
retold by Rosemary Sutcliff
read by Mark Ashby
1 cassette (Reissue)
In Denmark long ago, the mighty warrior Beowulf conquers first the monster Grendel
and then Sea-Hag—Grendel's mother—in an undersea struggle. Returning to his homeland,
Beowulf becomes king and dies protecting his people from the wrath of the Fire-Drake.
Narrative version of the Old English epic poem. For grades 5-8. 1961.

A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children RC 61660
edited by Caroline Kennedy
read by Kimberly Schraf
1 cassette
Treasury of Caroline Kennedy's best-loved childhood verses about animals, seasons, adventures, and bedtime. Features familiar classics by Shakespeare, Basho, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, and Ogden Nash as well as contemporary works by Nikki Giovanni, Jack Prelutsky, Naomi Shihab Nye, and Kennedy's mother, Jacqueline Bouvier, among many. For grades 4-7. 2005.

The Most Beautiful Roof in the World: Exploring the Rainforest Canopy RC 61661
by Kathryn Lasky
read by Michele Schaeffer
1 cassette
Discusses the work of scientist Meg Lowman, who studies leaf-eating insects and enjoys climbing trees. Describes a trip to Belize with her two sons and her brother, during which they explored the tropical canopy, collecting and preserving specimens to analyze back at a Florida research center. For grades 3-6. 1997.

Reflections of a Peacemaker: A Portrait through Heartsongs RC 61886
by Mattie J.T. Stepanek
read by Gordon Gould
2 cassettes
Final collection of works by the young poet who succumbed to an incurable disease at age thirteen. His mother selected some two hundred poems to create a window into Mattie's life, mind, and spirit. Sequel to Hope through Heartsongs (RC 54063). For grades 3-6 and older readers. 2005.

Fires! Ten Stories That Chronicle Some of the Most Destructive Fires in Human History RC 61965
by Tanya Lloyd Kyi
read by Kerry Cundiff
1 cassette
Presents personal accounts and factual circumstances of ten historic fires. Recounts tales of cowardice and heroism during the blazes of several cities, a factory, theater, blimp, ship, and oil field, from the burning of London in 1666 to a 2003 subway fire in South Korea. For grades 5-8. 2004.

Empire of Ancient Rome RC 62018
by Michael Burgan
read by Frank Coffee
2 cassettes
Chronicles the Roman government's growth as a republic, the Caesars' dictatorship, and the decline of the empire and its impact on Roman society. Discusses Rome's engineering feats, daily life, cultural and scientific
accomplishments, and legacy of political and legal systems. For grades 6-9. 2005.

Gorilla Doctors: Saving Endangered Great Apes RC 62038
by Pamela S. Turner
read by Catherine Byers
1 cassette
Combines accounts of veterinarians who treat mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda with information about the great apes' behavior and habits. Discusses the ongoing efforts to foil poachers as well as Dian Fossey's work to preserve the species and its environment. For grades 3-6. 2005.

Invisible Allies: Microbes That Shape Our Lives RC 62206
by Jeanette Farrell
read by Kristin Allison
1 cassette
Discusses the things microbes do for humans daily and people's changing perceptions about these organisms. Examines the simple meal of a cheese sandwich and a chocolate bar to understand how bacteria and fungi help produce, digest, and recycle the food. For grades 6-9. 2005.

Cassettes Fiction

Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia RC 57584
by Barbara O'Connor
read by Peggy Gilleland
1 cassette
Sixth-grader "Bird" Weaver, an outcast at school, befriends Harlem Tate,
the new kid in town, and together they enter the spelling bee. Harlem is considered
dumb and difficult to like, but once he gets the eyeglasses he needs he begins
to bloom. For grades 4-7. 2003.

Don't Let the Peas Touch! and Other Stories RC 60052
by Deborah Blumenthal
read by Rick Wiseman
1 cassette
Three stories about two sisters, Annie and Sophie. In the title piece, Sophie is fussy about the peas touching the omelet on her plate. After she upsets the whole family, her big sister Annie comes up with an original solution. For grades K-3. 2004.

Enna Burning RC 60327
by Shannon Hale
read by Laura Giannarelli
2 cassettes
Sixteen-year-old Enna, from The Goose Girl (RC 58713), hopes that her new knowledge of wielding fire will help her friend Princess Isi—who can wind speak—confront the enemies of Bayern. But Enna's need to burn is uncontrollable and puts her and others in grave danger. Some violence. For grades 6-9. 2004.

The Boy from the Basement RC 60881
by Susan Shaw
read by Bruce Nelson
1 cassette
Charlie is locked in the basement for a long time as punishment while his parents continue to live upstairs. When he escapes, Charlie is completely disoriented by the outside world. The boy doesn't know anything about television, school, or the holidays—he just wants to be loved. For grades 6-9. 2004.

The Leprechaun's Gold RC 60884
by Pamela Duncan Edwards
read by Mary Beth Wise
1 cassette
Tom, a young, mean-spirited harp player, and Old Pat, his generous teacher, travel together to enter the king's harping contest. A chance encounter with a leprechaun rewards Old Pat's kindness and teaches Tom a lesson. For grades K-3. 2004.

Kumak's Fish: A Tall Tale from the Far North RC 60886
by Michael Bania
read by John Lescault
1 cassette
One beautiful Arctic morning, Kumak packs his family and his Uncle Aglu's lucky hooking stick on a sled and goes ice fishing. When Kumak hooks what seems to be an enormous fish, the entire village comes to help him. For grades K-3. 2004.

The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes RC 60887
by Dubose Heyward
read by Nicola Daval
1 cassette
When one of the five fleet-footed Easter Bunnies slows down, a country mother of twenty-one cottontail babies proves that she is wise, kind, and swift. Grandfather Bunny chooses her to be a new Easter Bunny! For grades K-3. 1939.

The Egg Tree RC 60891
by Katherine Milhous
read by Kate Kiley
1 cassette (Reissue)
A houseful of Pennsylvania Dutch cousins enjoy an exciting Easter egg hunt. Katy's discovery of pretty eggs decorated by her grandmother long ago leads to a new family tradition. For grades K-3. Caldecott Medal. 1950.

I Am the Wallpaper RC 60903
by Mark Peter Hughes
read by Laura Giannarelli
1 cassette
Floey feels like wallpaper compared to her twenty-one-year-old sister Lillian,
even at her own thirteenth birthday party. Floey decides to become fabulous, not realizing that her visiting cousins are spying on her and posting her diary on the Internet. For grades 6-9. 2005.

More Perfect than the Moon RC 60919
by Patricia MacLachlan
read by Laura Giannarelli
1 cassette
Caleb, from Caleb's Story (RC 53941), has turned over the writing of the family journal to eight-year-old Cassie. Cassie is a watcher and a listener, and she can make herself invisible. But she becomes worried when she spends too much time watching her mother, Sarah. For grades 3-6. 2004.

From Charlie's Point of View RC 61308
by Richard Scrimger
read by Michael Russotto
2 cassettes
Fourteen-year-old Charlie was born blind but that does not deter him from proving his father's innocence in the Stocking Bandit bank robber case. Charlie enlists the help of two friends and a guardian angel to find the real criminal, following leads to a family crypt. For grades 6-9. 2005.

One Final Firecracker: The Hamlet Chronicles RC 61453
by Gregory Maguire
read by Lindsay Ellison
2 cassettes
A giant spider and several other odd creatures from earlier books in the Hamlet Chronicles return as the small Vermont town celebrates a grammar school graduation, Miss Earth's wedding, and the Fourth of July. For grades 3-6. 2005.

Life, Love, and the Pursuit of Free Throw RC 61459
by Janette Rallison
read by Catherine Byers
1 cassette
Cami and Josie take turns telling about their freshman year in high school, their competition for basketball awards and boys, and their efforts to remain best friends. For grades 6-9. 2004.

The Dragon Throne RC 61538
by Michael Cadnum
read by Erik Sandvold
1 cassette
At the behest of Queen Eleanor, newly knighted Edmund and Hubert accompany Ester, a young noblewoman of the royal household, on a perilous pilgrimage. While traveling from England to Rome, Edmund and Ester begin a romance. Sequel to The Leopard Sword (RC 55816). For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2005.

Inkspell RC 61571
by Cornelia Funke
read by Annie Wauters
4 cassettes
One year after Meggie's adventures in Inkheart (RC 57116), Dustfinger—the fire-eater brought to life by words—desperately needs to return to the original tale. Meggie, her parents, and Dustfinger's apprentice Farid follow him and soon are caught inside Inkworld, too. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2005.

A Woman of Her Tribe RC 61646
by Margaret A. Robinson
read by Laura Giannarelli
1 cassette
Fifteen-year-old Annette has lived all her life in her late Nootka Indian father's rural village on Vancouver Island. Her white mother decides to move to Victoria, British Columbia, for Annette's education. There Annette struggles to assimilate. For grades 6-9. 1990.

East RC 61655
by Edith Pattou
read by Mary Kane
2 cassettes
Scandinavia. An enormous white bear that is the victim of cruel enchantment visits young Rose and promises to heal her ailing sister if she accompanies him on a journey. They travel to a distant castle where Rose meets a mysterious stranger and learns the bear's true identity. For grades 6-9. 2003.

Listening for Lions RC 61659
by Gloria Whelan
read by Corrie James
1 cassette
Orphaned after the influenza epidemic in British East Africa in 1919, thirteen-year-old Rachel is tricked into assuming a deceased girl's identity. Rachel travels to England to gain her supposed grandfather's affection, but her only dream is to return to Africa and rebuild her parents' mission hospital. For grades 6-9. 2005.

Molly Moon's Hypnotic Time Travel Adventure RC 61664
by Georgia Byng
read by Annie Wauters
2 cassettes
After eleven-year-old Molly Moon and her parents are reunited, a mysterious turbaned gardener hypnotizes her. Eventually transported to nineteenth-century India, Molly meets not only a maharajah with a speech disability but also former versions of herself. Sequel to Molly Moon Stops the World (RC 61292). For grades 4-7. 2005.

Tiger: The Five Ancestors, Book 1 RC 61777
by Jeff Stone
read by Erik Sandvold
1 cassette
China, 1650. Five orphans, each mastering a kung fu style matching an animal, survive a siege of Cangzhen Temple led by a former companion. To avenge their warrior monk brethren and retrieve the stolen temple scrolls, each boy must find the secret to his past. For grades 5-8. 2005.

Stravaganza: City of Flowers RC 61796
by Mary Hoffman
read by Gabriella Cavallero
3 cassettes
Seventeen-year-old Sky finds a small blue glass bottle, a talisman of the Stravaganti, that transports him from modern-day London to Renaissance Italy, where political intrigue and mortal danger soon envelop him. Sequel to Stravaganza: City of Stars (RC 57962). For grades 6-9. 2005.

Revenge of the Sith: Star Wars, Episode III RC 61807
by Patricia C. Wrede
read by Erik Sandvold
1 cassette
Anakin Skywalker turns to the dark side, emerging as a Sith lord, Darth Vader. He soon faces his teacher, Jedi knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, in a fight that threatens to destroy the Jedi. Based on the screenplay for the movie. Sequel to Attack of the Clones: Star Wars Episode II (RC 54480). For grades 4-7. 2005.

Me Too RC 61819
by Vera Cleaver and Bill Cleaver
read by Jill Ferris
1 cassette (Reissue)
Twelve-year-old Lydia Birdsong and her twin sister Lorna, who has mental retardation, are abandoned by their father. Left to look after Lorna all summer while their mother works, headstrong Lydia is determined to make Lorna into a carbon copy of herself. For grades 5-8. 1973.

Dream-of-Jade: The Emperor's Cat RC 61847
by Lloyd Alexander
read by Michele Schaeffer
1 cassette
Five adventures of the Chinese cat Dream-of-Jade, whose good advice to Celestial
Emperor Kwan-Yu makes him a favorite. In "How Dream-of-Jade Looked at the Emperor,"
the feline saves the ruler's life and is honored with the rank of Imperial Cat.
For grades 2-4. 2005.

Hats Off for the Fourth of July! RC 61848
by Harriet Ziefert
read by Michele Schaeffer
1 cassette
Celebrates a town's Fourth of July parade as it passes the spectators. In rhyme. For preschool-grade 2. 2000.

The Angel Experiment: Maximum Ride, Book 1 RC 61892
by James Patterson
read by Catherine Byers
2 cassettes
Fourteen-year-old Max and her adopted family—Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the Gasman,
and Ange—are part-human, part-bird lab experiments pursued by mutant predators.
When Angel is kidnapped, Max leads the flock on a cross-country mission to rescue
Angel, find their parents, exact revenge, and save the world. Some violence.
For grades 6-9. 2005.

Tending to Grace RC 61921
by Kimberly Newton Fusco
read by Kimberly Schraf
1 cassette
Cornelia is shy and withdrawn because of her stutter. She feels even lonelier when her mother drops her off to live with an eccentric great-aunt in a rundown farmhouse. But slowly and warily Cornelia and her aunt learn to share their strengths with each other. For grades 6-9. Schneider Family Book Award. 2004.

Storm-Blast RC 61975
by Curtis Parkinson
read by Erik Sandvold
1 cassette
When Regan, his sister Carol, and their cousin Matt go snorkeling in the Caribbean, they are unprepared for the big storm that hits. Lost at sea in a dinghy that has no motor, food supplies, or communications equipment, the three teens face thirst, sharks, and fear. For grades 5-8. 2003.

Magic Steps: The Circle Opens, Book 1 RC 62207
by Tamora Pierce
read by Kristin Allison
1 cassette
Fourteen-year-old Sandry, a mage who weaves magic as well as cloth, begins training twelve-year-old Pasco, an untutored dancing mage. When a series of murders occur in a wealthy merchant family, Sandry and Pasco combine their skills to combat the evil assassins. For grades 5-8. 2000.

Two Steps Forward RC 62219
by Rachel Cohn
read by Kristin Allison
1 cassette
Annabel, from The Steps (RC 56162), is now fourteen and spending her summer vacation in Los Angeles with her blended family, including those from Australia. She contends with step- and half-siblings, grapples with her mother's failing second marriage, and falls in love. For grades 5-8. 2006.